http://www.punchng.com/news/fuel-scarcity-hits-lagos-worsens-in-abuja-others/

Entrances to many filling stations in Lagos and other parts of the country remained shut to motorists on Sunday following a sharp drop in the supply of petrol to the market.

Findings by The PUNCH revealed that oil marketers were no longer interested in importing the product mainly because of the rising exchange rate of the dollar to the Naira.

The other factors responsible for the marketers’ action are delayed subsidy payments and rising interests on loans from banks.
An official of a major marketing firm, who declined to have his name in print, said, “I am afraid that we cannot continue to import petrol because it costs more now to do so owing to the recent devaluation of the Naira. The rising amount of petrol subsidy arrears payable to us coupled with the high interests on loans from financial institutions, are still major issues in our hands.”

Another marketer told one of our correspondents that an exchange rate of N226 per dollar was demanded on import duties contrary to the inter-bank exchange rate of N198 posted on the website of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency for the pricing template of PMS approved on February 19, 2015.

The major marketers import close to 60 per cent of petrol consumed in the country while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation imports the balance.

Our correspondents observed on Sunday that the states hit badly by scarcity of petrol were Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Bayelsa, Ondo, Ekiti, Kaduna, Delta, Plateau, Akwa-Ibom. Abuja, the nation’s capital, appeared to be the worst hit by the shortage.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos Zone, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said the depots did not have enough products to serve filling stations across the country.

“If there were enough to go round, tanker drivers, of course, would move products to the areas of need. Nigerians should not be surprised that this is happening now. It is really unfortunate,” he said.

In Lagos, many filling stations did not sell petrol but those that were open for business had long queues of motorists to contend with.

Although their pump prices remained N87 per litre, black market operators sold 10 litres for N1,200, i.e N120 per litre.

Drivers of commercial buses capitalised on the situation to increase their fares. For instance, fare for Ojodu-Berger to Magboro, which hitherto was N50, was N100 on Sunday.

One motorist told one of our correspondents in Lagos that, “If our fuel finishes now, we will go and queue to get another fuel. Now that we have fuel, passengers would have to pay more until the situation improves.

It was a Herculean task for motorists in Sango-Ota, Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta in Ogun State to purchase petrol from the stations.

Although most of the stations sold petrol at the regulated price of N87 per litre, the Oando Filling Station in Ijoko, Ota sold it for N100.

A motorist, who bought from the said station demanded for and was issued a receipt which she forwarded to one of our correspondents.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, one of our correspondents had learnt on Friday that the scarcity was due to unsubstantiated information that petrol price would go down to N65 per litre.

A manager at one of the stations in the Mokola area of the city, said the rumour seemed to be gaining ground and that the marketers were studying the situation.

He said, “No businessman wants to run at a loss. The product we have now was purchased at the old price. We have not added any price to the stipulated N87 per litre of petrol but the queue is long because many people are not sure of the availability of the product in a few day’s time or why some fuel stations are not selling.

“Those who are not selling must have exhausted their product and are unwilling to buy more at the old price because of the fear that the rumour of a new price of N65 per litre could be true. If we buy today at the current price and government slashes price tomorrow, who pays for the deficit?”

The situation was the same in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on Sunday as many filling stations rationed the product.

A station along Adebayo Road which on Saturday sold the product for only two hours in the evening and did not on Sunday.

Motorists and commercial transport operators went to the hinterland where petrol sold at a higher price but readily available. The price ranged between N100 and N105 per litre.

The shortage which was noticeable in Warri, Sapele, Ughelli and other parts of Delta State thinned out on Sunday.

But the pump price of the product remained high in Asaba as motorists paid between N95 and N100 per litre.

The attendants said the directive to sell at prices higher than N87 was given by their bosses, who they said claimed to have bought the product at a higher price .

The scarcity in Ondo State which began on Thursday worsened on Sunday. Petrol also sold for between N95 and N110 per litre in filling stations that were operational.

Checks by our correspondent in the state showed that most of the stations were still locked .

The Chairman, Independent Marketers Branch, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Ore, Mr. Olakunle Ajulo, attributed the scarcity to the failure of government to pay subsidy claims.

He expressed hope that the matter would soon be resolved as stakeholders were already tackling the issue.

Ajulo blamed the shortage in Ondo and Ekiti states on the fact that the Ore Depot was not functioning.

There was also scarcity in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Apart from a few filling stations and the NNPC mega filling stations, others did not sell the product.

Some motorists spoken to said it was only the NNPC mega stations that sold petrol for N87.

A motorist, who gave his name simply as Femi, said he bought a litre for N90.

The product also sold for between N110 and N120 per litre in Jos, Bukuru and its environs in Plateau State.

An attendant at one of the stations, who identified herself as Yeni, said, “We have product, but the manager asked us to lock up the station.”

Many filling stations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Sunday were selling petrol at N110 per litre as against N140 to N150 per litre which was prevalent price for a litre of fuel last week.

Motorists and commuters in Kaduna State continued to groan in pain in the wake of fuel scarcity that hit the metropolis and its environs since Friday.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, told our correspondent on the telephone that the Federal Government had injected fresh 680 million litres of petrol to boost the product supply base.

He said the effect of the injection which was done at the weekend would be felt from Monday(today).

He advised Nigerians to desist from panic buying of petrol because there was no need for such.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Campaign of the All Progressives Congress has said that the return of queues at filling stations is a confirmation that the policies of the Goodluck Jonathan administration are founded on deceit and insincerity.

According to the APC campaign, it is now evident that the recent reduction in cost of petrol was borne out of political expediency, rather than compassion.

It also condemned the poor electricity supply across the country by power firms, describing it as a sad reminder of the failure of the PDP-led Federal Government.

The group, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, wondered how a political party which has been in power for 16 years, could still feel confident to seek another term in office.

The statement partly read,“The issue is that being unable to set up even one new refinery in the past five years and unable to get existing refineries to function up to 50 per cent capacity, the people of Nigeria surely need another set of people to be in charge of affairs.

Thank God for GEJ, fuel scarcity used to be daily occurrence with past governments.

That's why I like uncle jona, moving Nigeria backward sorry forward

oluwadamilolah:
N

No start that one for here o!

Mogidi:
Thank God for GEJ, fuel scarcity used to be daily occurrence with past governments.

So who will you blame this present fuel scarcity on? Buhari and APC?

I wonder why this thread isn't on front page

Waiting

MzJackBaueress:
So who will you blame this present fuel scarcity on? Buhari and APC?

I wonder why this thread isn't on front page

Berem you should call a spade a spade, we've never had it this good. I remember spending hours at petrol stations in the past, we seldom have that now.

We need Change. Vote Buhari so that the he can build new Refineries so that the Fuel we consume locally can be refined in Nigeria. That will keep cost down and ensure availability.

Vote APC, Sai Buhari.

I wonder who is responsible. we are spending more on TP these days. what is happening.

Mogidi:


Berem you should call a spade a spade, we've never had it this good. I remember spending hours at petrol stations in the past, we seldom have that now.

We were not buying fuel at either 87 or 130 Naira (I bought at that price yesterday) then so your argument is flawed.

GeneralBosco:

We were not buying fuel at either 87 or 130 Naira (I bought at that price yesterday) then so your argument is flawed.

You bought a loaf of bread at #50 and still expect to pay same 10yrs later, Bros, its seems you missed your econs class.

front page

Mogidi:
Thank God for GEJ, fuel scarcity used to be daily occurrence with past governments.

that useless crumps u get from politicians has blinded u so much that u delusional and dont understand what reality feels like

Pdp really knows how to run a good campaign... for the opposition! Ffk over to you for explanation or abuse. Another thing our capable leader didn't see coming, fuel scarcity in the middle of an election. Well done.

#change
#GMB
#APC

kallmemrB:
that useless crumps u get from politicians has blinded u so much that u delusional and dont understand what reality feels like

The least you could do was to provide some superior arguments to counter my claims, you only proved its above your skill-set to have a rational discussion with you. Anyway have a good day.

Mogidi:

The least you could do was to provide some superior arguments to counter my claims, you only proved its above your skill-set to have a rational discussion.

You claim fuel scarcity is a thing of the past. The topic you are responding to has directly faulted your argument. Which superior argument do you want again? No need for answer pls, I will not read it. Tnx

Mogidi:


[s]You bought a loaf of bread at #50 and still expect to pay same 10yrs later, Bros, its seems you missed your econs class.[/s]

Oga Economics, are you seriously comparing increase in bread price with increase in fuel price? In Nigeria for that matter Following the removal of fuel subsidy, government now solely have the authority to determine fuel price, I wonder if government now decides bread price too.

Your argument of "bread" and "fuel" is flawed.

Here in Ibadan, it is even worst, filling stations don't sell anymore and the one's that do, sell for #100 per liter, it's really frustrating consedring the poor power supply we get! only in this regime will there b fuel scarcity during election, GEJ has really loss hope of winning again!

Mogidi:


Berem you should call a spade a spade, we've never had it this good. I remember spending hours at petrol stations in the past, we seldom have that now.

i spent three hours on a queue to buy fuel at 100naira per litre yesterday.i drove almost 20kilometres before i even found a queue.i called a friend who owns a filling station and he informed me they couldnt get fuel but those that could get from the dpot got at 95-97naira so they have no choice but to sell at 100naira or more.this is the second time in 2 weeks am having to queue for a long time

Mogidi:


You bought a loaf of bread at #50 and still expect to pay same 10yrs later, Bros, its seems you missed your econs class.

what sort of meaningless analogy is this

Delafruita:
i spent three hours on a queue to buy fuel at 100naira per litre yesterday.i drove almost 20kilometres before i even found a queue.i called a friend who owns a filling station and he informed me they couldnt get fuel but those that could get from the dpot got at 95-97naira so they have no choice but to sell at 100naira or more.this is the second time in 2 weeks am having to queue for a long time

Compared to the past, you would agree the fed govt has almost eliminated the need for endless stay at petrol stations.

It can't be done on in 4yrs what took decades to decay, a lot needs to be done, but we're getting there.

Delafruita:
what sort of meaningless analogy is this

I tell you...very meaningless analogy

Delafruita:
what sort of meaningless analogy is this

How can you compare the prices you paid decades ago to present day? Prices of goods or services don't remain constant.

Mogidi:


Compared to the past, you would agree the fed govt has almost eliminated the need for endless stay at petrol stations.

It can't be done on in 4yrs what took decades to decay, a lot needs to be done, but we're getting there.

what sort of senseless argument is this.i had to queue for three hours to buy fuel at 100naira per litre and you expect me to be happy because i queued in time past to buy it at 43naira or 65naira?are you alright at all?

Delafruita:
what sort of senseless argument is this.i had to queue for three hours to buy fuel at 100naira per litre and you expect me to be happy because i queued in time past to buy it at 43naira or 65naira?are you alright at all?

Ok go kill yourself because you queued for 3hrs rather than the over 10hrs we were used to.

Mogidi:


How can you compare the prices you paid decades ago to present day? Prices of goods or services don't remain constant.

the first major action of president jonathan was to make fuel price 137naira from 65naira.he later reduced it to 97naira.i am quite certain that shows the price didnt remain constant.under yar'adua it was 65naira,under obasanjo i bought fuel at 11naira,23naira,45naira.so what exactly is your point?

Mogidi:


Ok go kill yourself because you queued for 3hrs rather than the over 10hrs we were used to.

i will use the only power i have which is my PVC to vote out a clueless president

Delafruita:
the first major action of president jonathan was to make fuel price 137naira from 65naira.he later reduced it to 97naira.i am quite certain that shows the price didnt remain constant.under yar'adua it was 65naira,under obasanjo i bought fuel at 11naira,23naira,45naira.so what exactly is your point?

Under murtala it was less than #5, wake up, the rest of us are in 2015 not in 1975.

Nigeria is running out of money fast

Some queues in ABJ will make you lose hope.