The scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, has led to the closure of many filling stations in Abuja and five other states, causing heavy queues at the few outlets still dispensing the product.
Thousands of commuters in the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, and Anambra states found themselves stranded at various bus stops due to the scarcity of PMS, which is essential for transporters to run their vehicles.
The scarcity resulted in a hike in transport fares in the affected states, as the limited number of transporters with petrol raised their rates.
The shortage in the supply of PMS to the nation’s capital and other states led to the closure of filling stations in the affected areas, exacerbating the situation.
Oil marketers announced plans to hold a meeting with the management of the retail subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to address the cause of the shortage and find solutions.
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Hundreds of motorists flocked to the few filling stations selling petrol in front of the NNPC corporate headquarters in Abuja, causing traffic congestion on roads leading to the area.
Numerous filling stations in Zuba, Niger State, including NNPC and AYM Shafa, were closed due to the lack of petrol to dispense. Similarly, many other outlets along the Kubwa-Zuba expressway in Abuja and in Nyanya, Nasarawa State, were shut.
The sudden scarcity piled pressure on the few stations that had PMS, resulting in massive queues by motorists.
The National Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria acknowledged the supply shortage and stated that the matter would be discussed in the upcoming meeting with NNPC.
Meanwhile, commuters in Anambra State faced challenges as most filling stations in major cities remained shut, leading to a significant increase in transportation fares.
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The reason for the petrol stations’ closure could not be immediately ascertained, but some speculated it might be due to a strike or a deliberate attempt by marketers to increase pump prices.
Despite the challenges, the Anambra State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources assured commuters and motorists that there was no cause for alarm and attributed the closures to a possible meeting among petrol marketers.
Efforts to obtain comments from NNPC regarding the queues and fuel supply shortage were unsuccessful, as the corporation’s spokesperson did not respond to inquiries.
