Fuel Scarcity Worsens In Lagos As Filling Stations Hoard Fuel

Many filling stations in Lagos on Monday closed their pumps to motorists leading to long queues in the few that sell.

Early signs of the commodity’s scarcity surfaced last Wednesday, following weeks of scarcity in Abuja.

OduNews gathered that the few stations in Lagos that sold fuel restricted it to two or three pumps.

In Abule Egba and Ijaiye axis, filling stations belonging to major marketers were shut while a few owned by independent marketers were dispensing fuel, though slightly above the N165 per litre benchmark.

Findings by OduNews also revealed that most of the filling stations that closed their gates to motorists took the action to hoard the commodity, following speculations of a possible price hike.

A station manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) filling station in Lagos, who pleaded anonymity, explained that in the last few days, trucks had been finding it difficult to load the product across the city.

He blamed the likely cause of the scarcity on the high cost of diesel used in transporting petrol and also used for running generators to power the filling stations in the absence of electricity.

“We had some difficulty loading petrol for some days. The depots are keen to increase the price of the commodity, owing to some factors. But there is strong resistance from the government.

“I am aware that critical stakeholders are working round the clock to ensure that no increase or scarcity happens. You know the government would not want to do anything that will cause dislocation in the country, especially now that elections are drawing nearer.”