Hunger Protests: Fuel Supply Halts, Queues Resurface Across Nigeria
Oil marketers have attributed the reappearance of queues at filling stations in numerous states to a halt in the supply of petroleum products. This action was taken by dealers to protect their assets amid the ongoing nationwide hunger protests.
Several states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, started seeing fuel queues around two weeks ago. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited initially blamed this on a “hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels.” However, as efforts were made to address this issue, the nationwide protests against hunger and economic hardship began on Thursday, August 1, 2024, disrupting petrol supply and causing queues to reappear.
Chief Chinedu Ukadike, the National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), explained that marketers were advised to close their stations during the protests to avoid asset loss. He mentioned that many tankers did not load products during the initial days of the protest, leading to supply chain disruptions and shortages in states expecting deliveries.
“Although IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Maigandi, urged independent marketers to continue their operations and called for security agencies to protect our facilities, security concerns led to a temporary halt in selling products. This precaution was to control the situation during the protests and prevent vandalism of marketers’ properties,” Ukadike said.
An anonymous operator noted that while members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers were ready to support depots in loading fuel, depot owners were reluctant due to security risks. This resulted in no activities at Lagos depots on Thursday and Friday, exacerbating the fuel scarcity.
Ukadike added that some trucks have started skeletal operations and expressed hope for improvement in the fuel supply situation, provided the protests subside. He also appealed to protesters to halt their actions, emphasizing that the President had heard their demands and needed time to address them.
Fuel Scarcity Across States
Delta State: Warri and its environs experienced fuel scarcity on Sunday, with prices ranging from N850 to N1,000 per liter due to non-loading by Petroleum Tanker Drivers amidst the protests.
Rivers State: Petrol sold at N850 to N870 per liter in Port Harcourt and its environs. Stations were closed on Thursday and Friday but reopened on Saturday, selling fuel at the aforementioned prices.
Akwa Ibom State: Fuel prices ranged from N870 to N890 per liter without queues at filling stations.
Edo State: Few stations opened on Sunday, selling fuel between N800 and N830 per liter with minimal queues.
Enugu State: Prices varied from N780 to N890 per liter. Major marketers sold at N780, while independent dealers sold at higher prices. Black market rates reached N1,000 per liter.
Kaduna: No fuel stations were open on Sunday, leaving residents stranded. Black marketers sold fuel at inflated prices of N1,000 per liter or N4,500 per gallon.
Gombe State: Black marketers sold petrol at N1,200 per liter, with residents expressing frustration over the situation.
The protests and subsequent fuel scarcity have significantly impacted residents across Nigeria, with no clear indication of when normal operations will resume.
