Fuel crisis cripples Nigeria

MAY 24, 2015 : OUR CORRESPONDENTS 99 COMMENTS

credits: Stanley Ogidi


The fuel scarcity situation in the country has taken a turn for the worse as reports on Saturday indicate.

Investigations by our correspondents all over the country showed that most filling stations in the land are not selling Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol.

This, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, escalated the already dire situation, forcing motorists and other consumers to the black market.

Investigations also showed that the pump price of the product in the few filling stations who had it ranged from N120 to as high as N400 per litre.

The high price of the product, according to our correspondents, has caused a hike in transport fare with the increase as high as 300 per cent in some places. Many commuters who were caught unawares by the development were seen trekking long distances to their destinations while others were forced to return home.

Most filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory have shut down following the non-availability of the commodity.

The few stations that were dispensing the product had long queues of vehicles with desperate motorists besieging their gates with the hope of getting fuel to pursue their economic and social activities.

However, black marketers were not short of supply as they chased after vehicles along the road selling fuel at N200 per litre to those who could afford it.

Some stations sold fuel at N140 per litre, but few motorists patronised them, preferring to stay in the queue for hours to buy at the official N87 per litre.

Checks showed that most filling stations in the satellite towns including Kubwa, Zuba, Nyanya, Kuje and others sold fuel for N140 per litre.

In Osun State, the situation became worse on Saturday with virtually all filling stations in Osogbo, the state capital remaining shut .

Our correspondent observed that the few filling stations which sold the product on Friday sold it for N150 per litre.

The fuel scarcity forced some residents of Osogbo and other towns including Ede to stay indoors except for those who had very important things to do.

A commercial bus driver, who identified himself as Taye, told our correspondent that the increment in the fare had forced commuters to resort to trekking.

He said, “We just pray that the situation will become normal next week. We are really suffering. There are no commuters on the road; it seems everybody is indoor.”

In Ondo State, a litre of petrol was sold for between N130 and 150 on Saturday. Some filling stations sold the product in Akure, the state capital, while some filling stations were closed.

The fuel scarcity has also forced commercial motorcyclists in the state to increase their fare and thus making many residents to complain.

The situation is not different in Benue where the product is currently sold for between N130 and N150 in Makurdi, the state capital, and major towns of Gboko, Kastina-Ala and Otukpo even as it is hard to come by.

In Taraba State, the situation was largely the same. The product which was sold for between N150 and N160.

In Rivers State, motorists faced a tough time as the commodity remained scarce within Port Harcourt, the state capital. Long queues were noticed in many filling stations that sold fuel. This was between N120 and N140.

In Calabar, petroleum depots were virtually dry. This put so much hardship on motorists and commuters as the price of a litre of petrol went up to between N150 and N250 at independent filing stations and the black market.

Filing stations owned by major marketers did not sell fuel. It was gathered that the major marketers are making brisk businesses by selling their products at the depots to independent marketers at a higher price.

Transport fare had also rose to more than 100 per cent within the Calabar metropolis.

The only NNPC Mega Station along the Murtala Mohammed Highway that was selling fuel had long queue stretching over three kilometres.

A motorist, Mr. Ben Amajo, who said he had spent more than five hours queuing up at the NNPC Mega Station, said he was completely fed up with the situation in the country.

Most of the active filling stations in Enugu State were selling petrol between N140 and N150, while the commodity sold mostly at the cost of N125 and N130 per litre in Abia and Ebonyi states.

The situation was the same in Imo and Anambra states.

Apparently, as a result of the cost of the commodity, there was no queue in most of the filling stations.

However, several filling stations had no fuel.

But there were long queues at the NNPC filling stations, which sold at the official N87 per litre fuel whenever they had the product.

In Jos, Plateau State, most of the independent marketers, though displayed pump prices ranging from N140 to N150, sold above that. Black marketers also had a field day as a four-litre jerry can went for between N800 and N900.

The situation was not different in Bauchi and Lafia where roadside sale of petrol had a big boom. Long queues were still noticeable in most major marketers, especially NNPC mega stations.

The fuel scarcity in Owerri was fierce. Filling stations fixed their pump price at 130 per litre. Most filling stations in the communities our correspondent visited sold the commodity for N140.

The development hampered economic activities in the state.

Motorists in Edo and Delta states were full of tales at the weekend.

Checks by our correspondent on Saturday showed that while most of the major filling stations on the busy Akpakpava and Sapele road in Benin, did not sell the product, some private fuel stations around Oluku sold at the price of N130 per litre.

Black marketers, who had taken advantage of scarcity, sold 10 litres of the product for N1450 and N1500, depending on the bargaining ability of the buyer.

The situation was also not different in major parts of Delta where the non-availability of the product resulted in an increase in the cost of public transport in major cities.

Petrol was sold for between N260 and N300 per litre in Sokoto and neighbouring Kebbi State. Most motorists in the two states relied on road side hawkers of petrol as most filling stations either did not have the product for sale or were selling to hawkers at a higher rate.

Mr. Mohammed Shehu, a resident of Mabera in Sokoto town, told SUNDAY PUNCH via telephone that motorists had always been at the mercy of hawkers of the products.

Petrol stations in Akwa Ibom State sold fuel between N140 to N150 per litre.

There were queues at few filling stations that sold the products at N130, those that could not risk the queues had to get the product at higher rates of N140 and N150 from other filling stations.

The trend affected vehicular movement.

Some residents of Nasarawa and Adamawa states on Saturday expressed displeasure over the endless fuel scarcity across the nation as pump prices rose to N160 per litre on Saturday.

The situation was a little different at both NNPC mega station in Nasarawa and Adamawa states, that sold fuel for N100 per litre.

In Niger state, the majority of petrol stations sold for N130 per litre. Our correspondent who went round Minna confirmed that it was only the NNPC that was selling for N87 per litre.

It was observed also that a lot of fuel stations were closed as a result of high price and a lot of people queued up for hours to get fuel.

One of the commuters, Isah Mohammed, who spoke to our correspondent said he had been at NNPC patrol station since 5.30am and it didn’t get to his turn.

In Kaduna the situation was the same, other petrol stations were selling for N130 per litre except NNPC.

However, there were no queues.

Most of the filling stations visited in Katsina metropolis had fuel, but while some sold at between the above said price, others along the outskirt sold above the price.

In Bayelsa a litre of petrol was sold for between N140 and N200.

The NNPC mega filling stations in the Yenagoa metropolis were selling the products at the regulated price of N87 per litre but the queues were extremely long.

The situation was not different in Kwara and Kogi states.

Investigations by our correspondent in Ilorin on Saturday showed petrol was sold for N150.

Also in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, a litre of petrol was sold for N120 but between N170 and N200 in the hinterlands.

The high cost of fuel had also increased transport fare between 50 and 70 per cent in Kwara and Kogi states.

Motorists and passengers in Ogun State also bought the product at a high cost. From Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Ilaro to the capital city of Abeokuta, the situation was the same.

Filling stations in the state, mostly owned by independent marketers, dispensed a litre of fuel between N150 and N300.

Transportation fares had increased by over 100 per cent on both intra-city and inter-state routes.

In Yobe and Borno states, petrol sold for N130 at filling stations.

In Bauchi and Gombe, it was for either N145 or N150 at very few filling stations, with resultant long queues. Many motorists were left with the option of buying at black market at the price of N200.

Major businesses in these states are beginning to close shop due to the scarcity of fuel and diesel.

On Saturday, one of Nigeria’s telecommunications firms, said the scarcity of diesel was jeopardising its operations. It said, “The management of MTN states that the current diesel scarcity in most parts of Nigeria is posing a significant threat to quality of service and the ability to optimally operate the network.

According to the Corporate Services Executive, Akinwale Goodluck “Most of our base stations and switches are powered round-the-clock by Diesel generators and the current fuel shortage has drastically reduced the availability of diesel supply to key locations.”

“MTN’s available reserves of diesel are running low and the company must source for a significant quantity of diesel in the very near future to prevent a shut down of services across Nigeria. If diesel supplies are not received within the next 24 hours the network will be seriously degraded and customers will feel the impact.

“MTN is working with all stakeholders to ensure services remain. MTN sincerely apologises for any outages and inconvenience that may occur and seeks the understanding of customers at this time.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/fuel-crisis-cripples-nigeria/

This is Serious.

Comment have eroded me..

kodded:
"The time when we where calling for subsidy removal
in 2012, a lot of people where criticizing GEJ, they
where against the move, ACN used it to deceive the
masses. Now we are all seeing the result".

...BrokenTV

"The time you were looking for more money to do Jamboree" not calling for subsidy removal. Trust Nigerians, they can't be deceived. If subsidy had been removed completely, marketers would've ganged up to hoard the product so that it will sell for N500 a litre because they know Nigerians had a toothless president who cannot fight corruption

socialmediaman:


"The time you were looking for more money to do Jamboree" not calling for subsidy removal. Trust Nigerians, they can't be deceived. If subsidy had been removed completely, marketers would've ganged up to hoard the product so that it will sell for N500 a litre because they know Nigerians had a toothless president who cannot fight corruption

so why is buhari and apc saying he will remove fuel subsidy ?

Jonathan seems to have practically gone blind, deaf and dumb. He's totally unperturbed by the raging economic crises in the country, after all, we rejected him at the polls.

This was the same man that showed the world what a "caring" president he is by paying compensation to victims of the immigration recruitment tragedy couple of days before the election, reducing electricity tariffs, and reducing the official pump price of PMS.

Where is his much touted spirit of sportsmanship?? How much longer can he continue to play possum when the country he preside over burns?? Do we have to apologise to him for making a choice after our hearts and minds??

This is simply a confirmation of most of the things that have been said about the man; that he's a pretentious mean and vindictive guy.

kodded:
so why is buhari and apc saying he will remove fuel subsidy ?

Because Buhari is committed to fighting corruption in the sector and in fact he'll probably do that before removing subsidy. Nigerians asked Jonathan to fight the corruption in the sector first so we can know the actual amount of subsidy before removing it, because we believe the amount being paid was outrageously fraudulent, but he refused, how can anything work in a government who cannot bring perpetrators to justice? A government that continuously lies to its people and blames opposition for every single thing they cannot control?

kodded:
is not what apc and buahri are doing right now ? Blaming pdp and jonathan for everything and use lies to destroy jonathan administration [/b]

But the facts are there for everyone to see.

Has Jonathan performed credibly within the past 5 years? No.

Has Jonathan's government fought corruption? No, infact they crippled EFCC in the past 5 years by requiring them to get approval from the presidency before prosecuting high profile cases.

Have they improved on electricity? No, they performed as woefully as Obasanjo's government.

Did they manage the economy well? Absolutely not, infact $20 billion dollars got lost in the NNPC, another $20 billion dollars got lost at The NPA and Customs through fraudulent import waivers, billions of dollars get missing everyday at the NNPC and the oil industry unchecked.

Have they improved on security and reduced crime rate in the country? Never. Insurgency, Crime and insecurity increased during Jonathan's government. Lots of armunition easily slipped into wrong hands, kidnapping tremendously increased and people never felt safer than before

Have they created as much jobs? No, the unemployment has remained the same or gotten worse in the past 5 years.

Tell me, how can a government with such statistics as this be said to have transformed the country?

[s]

socialmediaman:


But the facts are there for everyone to see. Has Jonathan performed credibly within the past 5 years? No. Has Jonathan's government fought corruption? No, infact they crippled EFCC in the past 5 years by requiring them to get approval from the presidency before prosecuting high profile cases. Have they improved on electricity? No, they performed as woefully as Obasanjo's government. Did they manage the economy well? Absolutely not, infact $20 billion got lost in the NNPC, another $20 billion dollars got lost at NPA through fraudulent import waivers, billions of dollars get missing everyday at the NNPC and the oil industry unchecked.

Have they created as much jobs? No, the unemployment has remained the same or gotten worse in the past 5 years.

Tell me, how can a government with such statistics as this be said to have transformed the country?

[/s]


Sore loser
Enjoy your change chanji

kodded:
[s][/s]


Sore loser
Enjoy your change chanji

5 days to go. We, the patriotic Nigerians, will miss the arrogance and annoying posts of PDP e-bloggers as they go into ghost mode and probably stop getting paid to litter the Internet With trash

[s]

socialmediaman:


5 days to go. We, the patriotic Nigerians, will miss the arrogance and annoying posts of PDP e-bloggers as they go into ghost mode and probably stop getting paid to post senseless trash on the Internet

[/s]yes o



Baba419 will wave his magic wand and the fuel price will reduce back to N50 he will wave it again and nigerians will have 24hrs power supply and he will wave it again and corruption will disappear ....




....Smh I advice you to wake up and face the reality on ground ...buhari aint a miracle worker so don't think he will out perform the likes of theodore orji or aregbosola

kodded:
[s][/s]yes o



Baba419 will wave his magic wand and the fuel price will reduce back to N50 he will wave it again and nigerians will have 24hrs power supply and he will wave it again and corruption will disappear ....




....Smh I advice you to wake up and face the reality on ground ...buhari aint a miracle worker so don't think he will out perform the likes of theodore orji or aregbosola

I expected that by now you guys would be responsibly tending to your wounds and preparing for a comeback sometime in the next 8 years or so.

You should wake up! Nigerians didn't vote for miracle!! They voted for change; change in how the economy is managed, change in how money disappears without trace and nobody is held accountable; change in how government contracts are awarded to people without due process; change in how recruitments are made into institutions by connections and not merit, change in the high level of fraud and impunity that goes on in government!

With the above mentioned, development will come, not miracles. So please if you think Nigerians are expecting miracles, shame! No nation was built by lies and deceit but by hardwork, dedication and Justice

socialmediaman:


"The time you were looking for more money to do Jamboree" not calling for subsidy removal. Trust Nigerians, they can't be deceived. If subsidy had been removed completely, marketers would've ganged up to hoard the product so that it will sell for N500 a litre because they know Nigerians had a toothless president who cannot fight corruption

And what makes you think that if Subsidy is removed when Buhari is the President that the marketers will not hoard it and sale it for 500 naira litre.
And secondry for the bolded check my post doing the era of the subsidy protest before you keep talking trash.

BrokenTV:

And what makes you think that if Subsidy is removed when Buhari is the President that the marketers will not hoard it and sale it for 500 naira litre.
And secondry for the bolded check my post doing the era of the subsidy protest before you keep talking trash.

It will be a miracle if these marketers don't lose their importation licenses or end up in jail soon for the massive fraud and crimes of sabotage against Nigeria. The problem in the sector is fighting corruption, it only takes someone who will do the needful to restore sanity. The Buhari government has stated that it will go as far as knowing the actual landing cost of the product which investigations have alleged to be between N35 and N50, these people are frauds and treasury usurpers and they'll be dealt with accordingly, including those government officials at the ports, customs and Immigration that have been aiding them to committing all these fraud. If you wanna be a good leader you must have guts to do what is right. Why are NDLEA, EFCC and other agencies suddenly doing their jobs now to prosecute high profile cases? It's obvious its no longer business as usual and you can't keep your job by not doing it