Fuel queues have once again become a common sight in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, as residents scramble to obtain the scarce product, often at significantly higher prices.
BusinessDay’s findings revealed that as of Sunday afternoon, several filling stations were selling fuel at N800 per litre, a stark increase from the usual prices. In contrast, the NNPC retail outlets, which have remained largely closed for some time, maintained a price of N617 per litre.
At Umaru A. filling station in Lokogoma, fuel was being sold at N800 per litre to a long queue of customers, including private vehicles, taxis, Kekenapep drivers, okada riders, and individuals with jerrycans.
Additionally, ‘black market’ traders were observed around several filling stations, selling fuel for as high as N10,000 per 10-litre gallon. This was particularly evident around the NNPC retail outlets, which were shut down.
A taxi driver, Sule, recounted his ordeal, saying he was forced to drive 15 kilometers from Area 1 to Lokogoma to find petrol. “Getting fuel has become difficult for some days now, and it is affecting our business. I have been at Area 1 looking for where to get fuel until a friend told me of this place,” he said. Sule noted that although the price at Lokogoma was higher than the average N617-N660, he was willing to pay it to continue his business, which would, in turn, increase transportation costs for commuters.
A fuel attendant at Umaru A. filling station, who wished to remain anonymous, reported a surge in customer patronage since Friday. “I do not know why others do not have fuel for sale, but what I know is that we have and we are selling. I also cannot tell you why the price changed because I do not know,” the attendant said.
Chris Tee filling station in Lokogoma also experienced long queues, selling fuel at N800 per litre.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited were unsuccessful. Messages sent to Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer, went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
This resurgence of fuel queues comes amidst reports of NNPC incurring $6 billion in petrol payment backlogs, further complicating the situation for residents and businesses in Abuja.
