Fuel Scarcity: Long Queues Return To Lagos, Abuja As FG Confirms Supply Of Adulterated Petrol
Queues had surfaced at filling stations in parts of the country on Monday stretching into Tuesday in what appeared as growing scarcity for Premium Motor Spirit, a commodity that has achieved an indispensable status in the Nigerian economy, no thanks to epileptic power supply, rising cost of gas, and dependent by vehicle owners.
The realities of fuel scarcity has also led to anxiety and confusion in major locations in the nation’s commercial capital, like Lagos, FCT Abuja, Port Harcourt, etc.
It is believed that the current petrol scarcity experienced in some parts of Lagos is as a result of efforts to recall ‘hazardous products’ in circulation.
According to a report from Guardian, the panic began gradually over the weekend when unusual long queues of vehicle at various filling stations in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki were noticed as residents spent longer period trying to buy the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
While this was attributed to increased demand for fuel due to power outage following a fire incident that led to the shutdown of Nigeria’s largest power plant, Egbin, from the national grid, last week, the long queues persisted yesterday morning despite improved power supply.
There were long queues on Awolowo road in Ikoyi, which caused gridlock along the axis. Most of the fuel stations visited in the metropolis claimed they were without supply. The few stations that had supply attracted long queues.
From Ojodu-Berger to Lekki, Gbagada, Alapere, Oshodi-Apapa axis, Ajah, Sangotedo, Mile-2, Ikorodu, among others, long queues were sighted in filling stations, which in some stations spiraled into the major roads.
Many commuters along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, including Sangotedo and Victoria Garden City (VGC) axis had a hectic time in traffic. On the Island (Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Obalende axis), only a few stations had supply with manageable queues. It was the same situation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Some commuters resorted to trekking long distances to get to their destinations, while commercial transporters took advantage of the situation to hike transport fares on busy routes. The fare from Ajah to CMS, which, ordinarily, was N400, was hiked to N1,000.
Though the NNPC has always allayed fears of any hitch in the supply of petroleum products, assuring of its availability.
Despite reported cases of scarcity in some parts of the country, the entire country may be plunged into another round of terrifying fuel scarcity if the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) goes on with its threat of withdrawing haulage service should the Federal Government fail to urgently address the rising cost of operation that its members are facing.
The association’s National President, Yusuf Lawal Othman, in a statement on Monday February 7, said that his members now find it difficult to remain afloat because of the high freight rate, which is regulated and paid in arrears.
A source who spoke to Vanguard, claimed that the hardship Nigerians are suffering over fuel scarcity is a result of lack of petroleum product at the depots, but refused to dismiss speculations that fuel subsidy removal was connected with the current scarcity.
Reacting to the development, the Federal Government has confirmed through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority on Tuesday that adulterated petrol with menthanol quantities above Nigeria‘s specification has been discovered in the supply chain.
It also said oil marketers had been directed to ensure sufficient supply of quality petrol in all outlets in the country.
In its statement, The regulatory authority said,
“Limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as Petrol, with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification was discovered in the supply chain.
“Methanol is a regular additive in Petrol and usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
“To ensure vehicular and equipment safety, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit.
“Our technical team in conjunction with NNPC Ltd and other industry stakeholders will continue to monitor and ensure quality petroleum products are adequately supplied and distributed nationwide.
“The source supplier has been identified and further commercial and appropriate actions shall be taken by the Authority and NNPC Ltd.
“NNPC Ltd and all Oil Marketing Companies have been directed to sustain sufficient distribution of Petrol in all retail outlets nationwide.
“Meanwhile, NNPC has intensified efforts at increasing the supply of Petrol into the market in order to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.”