Fuel scarcity may hit Lagos and cities around it, as oil marketers continue to shut filling stations against motorists and other users of the product.
According to Vanguard, the closure of stations began gradually after the NNPC Limited cut the volume of its imports to enable major and independent marketers participate in importation, following the deregulation of the market.
However, the situation became widespread due to the inability of the marketers to import. This is mainly due to difficulties associated with sourcing foreign exchange and instability in the domestic market.
“The reduction in NNPC Limited ‘s import, aimed at enabling the marketers to embark on importation and the inability of the marketers to import have created a vacuum that needs to be addressed.
“The situation could have been very serious if many people are still buying the product. But the shortage is currently mild because many automobile owners are not driving frequently or have completely abandoned driving because of the high cost of petrol currently going for between N568 per litre and N590,” a marketer, who pleaded anonymity, said.
However, a visit to Ijegun and Satellite depots indicated that fuel lifting was ongoing, even though an operator confirmed that stocks had reduced.
The National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chinedu Okoronkwo, simply said “we are still loading.”
