A New Wave Of Fuel Scarcity As Depots Turn Up The Dial On Prices

Fuel scarcity is making a troubling return in Lagos and various parts of Nigeria, caused by a significant hike in the ex-depot price of petrol.

Eko Hot Blog gathered that private depot owners have raised price of the product from N630 to N720 per litre.

According to PUNCH, the situation has worsened in Abuja and neighboring states, with some filling stations charging as much as N900 per litre.

Reports indicate that several filling stations in Lagos, Ogun, and other regions have closed down, refusing to purchase the expensive fuel.

According to Hammed Fashola, National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, many stations remain shut due to a lack of fuel supply.

He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which is the sole importer of petrol at the moment, should explain to Nigerians what was happening with the product.

“Those that shut their stations do not have fuel to sell. When you don’t have fuel, you cannot open your station. That is the problem. You know the NNPC is the sole importer of this product. I think it is in the best position to tell us what is actually going on.

“Currently, independent marketers cannot buy what the private depots are selling. They are selling fuel between N715 and N720 per litre.

How much will marketers sell the product? Look at the cost of bringing it to their depots; with transportation and other depot expenses, it will be too costly for them.

That is why the stations are shut down. Some marketers refuse to go and buy because they know the masses cannot afford high-priced petrol in this economy.

That is the situation for now,” the IPMAN leader stated.

It was gathered that the third parties, who are private depot owners, used to sell PMS to independent marketers at the rate of N630-650/litre before now, while the NNPC sells petrol to major marketers at a price below or around N600.

On many occasions, leaders of IPMAN have appealed to the NNPC to supply them with petrol directly like they do to major marketers, but the NNPC has yet to yield to that call.

Fashola appealed to Nigerians to avoid panic buying, saying they should buy what they need so that the fuel in circulation could go round.

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