Fuel scarcity are beginning to emerge in Lagos and other parts of the country as private depot owners have increased the ex-depot price of petrol from N630 to N720 per litre 9am new nigeria reports that fuel stations in Lagos, Ogun, and several other states are out of stock, refusing to buy the costly fuel from private depots.
Meanwhile, those with available fuel are selling it for as much as N900 per litre. In an interview with 9am news nigeria, Hammed Fashola, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, mentioned that many filling stations remain closed due to the fuel scarcity. He urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the sole petrol importer currently, to clarify the situation to Nigerians.
“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.
Hammed Fashola
In a chat with 9am news correspondence Ogasabi he stated that private depot owners sold petrol to independent marketers at N630-650 per litre, while the NNPC supplied petrol to major marketers at a price below or around N600 per litre.
IPMAN leaders have repeatedly requested the NNPC to supply them with petrol directly, as they do with major marketers, but the NNPC has not yet responded to these appeals. 9am news stated that fashola advised Nigerians against panic buying, encouraging them to purchase only what they need to ensure the available fuel can be distributed evenly. It was noted that major marketers sold petrol below N650 per litre, while independent marketers priced it between N750 and N800 per litre.
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