Oil marketers in Abuja and neighboring states of Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi have shut down their filling stations, leading to long queues for fuel amid growing worries over a planned nationwide protest.
The protest, aimed at addressing widespread hardship, is scheduled for August 1st.
In Abuja, retail outlets, including those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), ceased fuel dispensing as of Friday.
Similar scenes unfolded in parts of Niger and Nasarawa, where fuel queues reappeared at stations like AYM Shafa in Dei-Dei and NNPC in Zuba, Niger State.
In Lagos, many filling stations were closed, raising fears of an impending fuel shortage. Most stations were not dispensing fuel, and the few that remained operational were selling at N800 per litre.
Some marketers attributed the closures to fuel shortages, while others cited apprehension regarding the planned protest.
In Ogun State, the situation escalated into a crisis as long lines formed at filling stations. Vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, and buses, lined up chaotically for fuel, with motorists expressing their frustration.
A commercial bus driver heading to Ibadan, who identified himself as Shared, vented his frustration after waiting over an hour in line.
“I didn’t expect such a long queue,” he lamented. “My passengers are complaining, but there’s nothing I can do.”
Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, pointed out that some stations may be closed due to product shortages, while others were taking preventive measures out of fear of the looming protest.
Recall that Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri called for calm and urged Nigerians to refrain from participating in the proposed protest.
