Nationwide Fuel Scarcity Worsens, Nigerians Struggle as Prices Soar

The ongoing fuel scarcity in Nigeria, which first emerged in Lagos and Abuja over a month ago, has now spread to other parts of the country, leaving citizens grappling with skyrocketing prices and limited access to petrol. 

 

In some regions, the price of gasoline has surged to over N1000 per liter, further exacerbating the hardships faced by many Nigerians. 

 

Numerous petrol stations across the country have remained closed, citing the unavailability of fuel, while the scarcity continues to disrupt both commercial and social activities nationwide. 

 

However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attributed the shortages to “distribution challenges,” and the exact cause of the prolonged scarcity remains unclear.

 

The impact of this fuel crisis has been particularly devastating for those whose livelihoods depend on consistent access to gasoline, such as taxi drivers, dispatch riders, and sellers of frozen foods. 

 

 Fuel is essential to some people’s daily operations, and many of these individuals have been left struggling to make ends meet. 

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The situation has forced some to resort to the black market, where a ten-liter jerrycan of petrol now sells for as much as N12,000. Meanwhile, private fuel stations that still have stock are charging between N750 and N1050 per liter, depending on their location. 

 

In spite of the government’s acknowledgment of the issue, there is growing frustration among citizens who feel that more needs to be done to ensure that petrol stations are adequately supplied and that prices are regulated. 

 

The ongoing scarcity not only threatens the livelihoods of those directly dependent on fuel but also affects the broader economy as transportation costs rise and businesses struggle to maintain operations.