Grace Omachoko
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel or petrol, has reached a staggering price of N1000 per litre in some parts of the country.
The surge in prices is attributed to recent strike actions by tanker drivers, which have disrupted fuel supply chains and led to widespread shortages.
Journalists investigating the situation observed numerous filling stations, particularly those owned by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), closed in Lagos State, Ogun State, and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, long queues were seen at stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN).
MEMAN stations, including Eterna, NorthWest, TotalEnergies, Mobil, Capital Oil, Enyo, Conoil, ForteOil, MRS, among others, are offering petrol at varying prices ranging from N599 to N615 per litre, according to news report.
As a result, consumers are flocking to MEMAN stations in search of more affordable prices, while IPMAN stations remain mostly closed due to low product supply. The few IPMAN stations with available products are selling petrol for no less than N650 per litre.
Explaining the situation, the Chairman of Satellite Depot, IPMAN Lagos State, revealed that NNPC has ceased supplying products to IPMAN members, forcing them to rely on private depots selling at ex-depot prices of N620/N622 per litre.
Following strike actions by the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers, a resolution was reached to end the strike after discussions with Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, oil marketers, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
NARTO National President, Othman Yusuf, instructed members to resume petroleum loading activities promptly after a meeting in Abuja.