…Petrol is selling at an average price of N970 per litre, where it is available in retail outlet, and as high as N1500 per litre in the black market
TUE APRIL 30 2024-theGBJournal| In the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, where the rhythm of life pulses through the streets, a familiar challenge has once again reared its head – petrol scarcity.
The state owned oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd), a monopoly in the petrol supply chain, had four days ago tried to provide reason for the scarcity.
NNPC said the ”scarcity is as a result of logistics issues” which it claimed ”have been resolved,” reiterating that that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.
But for over a week now, motorists across the country have been grappling with long queues at petrol stations and uncertainty about when they’ll be able to fill up their tanks despite the assurances given by the NNPC Ltd of ”enough stock.”
Among them was Bola, a taxi driver whose livelihood depended on the wheels of his trusty car.
Each day, for the past three days now, he woke up before dawn, hopeful that he’d be able to secure fuel to keep his taxi running. However, his hopes have been dashed as he faced the reality of empty tanks and shut petrol stations.
The impact of the petrol scarcity is rippling through every aspect of every Nigerian’s life. Daily earnings have dwindled for most families now as they spend hours waiting in line, only to be told that the station had run out of fuel.
The frustration is begining to weigh heavily on families as they struggled to pay their bills amidst electricity scarcity, runaway inflation and worsening food crisis in the country.
Across the country, motorists are venting their frustrations, with some resorting to drastic measures to secure fuel, including purchasing from the black market at exorbitant prices.
Petrol is selling at an average price of N970 per litre, where it is available in retail outlet, and as high as N1500 per litre in the black market, according to theG&BJournal’s investigation.
The ripple effect of the petrol scarcity extends beyond individuals, impacting businesses, transportation services, and the overall economy.
The federal government, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd) officials are muted, without reasonable response to address the crisis, citing various reasons for the shortage, from logistical challenges to issues with fuel importation.
However, the explanations has offered little solace as Nigerians continued to grapple with the daily grind of searching for fuel.
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