Long queues have resurfaced at petrol stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving motorists spending hours to purchase Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol. The situation has been attributed to the closure of many filling stations operated by independent marketers.
On Tuesday evening, many filling stations in Abuja remained closed, while the few that were open, particularly those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and some major oil marketers, had long queues. Outlets such as the NNPC mega station on the Katampe axis of the Zuba-Kubwa Expressway, AP station along Aguiyi Ironsi Street in the city centre, and NIPCO filling station also along the Zuba-Kubwa expressway, among others, witnessed massive queues.
The petrol scarcity has left scores of residents stranded at various bus stops and created a lucrative environment for black marketers who are exploiting the situation to make exorbitant profits.
Sources quoted by PUNCH reported that members of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) had lifted over 50 million litres of PMS from the Dangote Refinery in the past week. During a webinar on Tuesday, Huub Stokman, Chairman of MEMAN, confirmed that major marketers have started loading the product from the refinery. However, Stokman did not reveal whether the marketers were buying directly from Dangote or from the product bought by the NNPCL.
The resurfacing of petrol queues in Abuja has caused frustration among residents who are spending hours trying to purchase the essential commodity. The situation has also raised concerns about the sustainability of petrol supply in the nation’s capital and the role of independent marketers in the distribution chain.