Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are grappling with severe fuel shortages following the abrupt closure of several Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets across the capital city.
Investigations reveal that these closures, which have persisted for several days, were allegedly ordered by the management of the national oil firm and are expected to continue until next week.
Long Queues and Commuter Frustration
The shutdown, attributed to logistical challenges, has led to long queues at the few operational fuel stations. Motorists and commuters now endure hours of delays, scrambling for fuel amidst dwindling availability.
At multiple locations visited by The PUNCH on Wednesday, including Lugbe, Airport Road, Zone 3, Life Camp, and Kubwa, motorists were turned away, while attendants sat idle due to a lack of product.
An attendant at an NNPC station in Garki, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “We’ve been dry for two days now. There is simply no product to sell. We are awaiting directives from our suppliers.”
In Kubwa, another attendant, identified as Peter, explained that the station had been selling off previous stock but had not received fresh supplies due to ongoing challenges. “We finished our old stock yesterday. We only do not have products for today. We are expecting supplies and will definitely have them by tomorrow. But we have gas available for sale today,” he said.
Internal Adjustments Behind Closure
A station manager at the NNPC Life Camp station confirmed that the closures stem from internal adjustments within NNPCL.
“The reason why there has been no fuel in most of our stations in Abuja in recent weeks is due to some internal adjustments/programmes being done at the management level,” the manager, who declined to give his name, stated.
He reassured residents, adding, “There’s no cause for alarm as the situation is being resolved. Some NNPC stations have started receiving supplies and selling to customers. Very soon, between now and next week, we expect to have fuel here as well. The price still stands at 965 naira per litre.”
Despite the closures, some mega stations have continued operations, selling off existing stock, which initially mitigated the impact before the scarcity became pronounced.
Outcry from Residents and Motorists
The sudden shortage has caught many residents off-guard, leading to widespread frustration. Long lines have formed at the few stations still dispensing fuel, while many motorists have resorted to purchasing from independent marketers who sell at higher prices.
A driver who spoke to our correspondent expressed his disappointment, stating, “I am disappointed with how this situation is being handled. Now I have no choice but to patronise independent marketers who sell at a higher rate.”
Efforts to reach NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye for clarification proved futile, as he did not respond to messages sent to his line. However, a source within the company attributed the closures to “unanticipated logistical issues.”
“We have product in all our depots, but we had some logistics challenges,” the source confirmed.
With fuel availability in Abuja rapidly declining, residents remain hopeful that NNPCL will resolve the situation swiftly to ease the burden on motorists and commuters.