Petrol Scarcity Worsens in Northern Nigeria, Prices Soar Amidst Supply Disruptions

As petrol scarcity intensifies in Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina States, motorists are facing exorbitant prices and severe shortages of the essential fuel commodity.

According to reports from Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) across the three states, citizens are enduring distressing experiences due to the scarcity.

Major and independent petrol marketers have largely shuttered their filling stations, exacerbating the situation. The few stations still operational have hiked petrol prices sharply, ranging from N800 to N1000 per litre.

Additionally, roadside black marketers are thriving, selling a 4-litre gallon for between N5000 to N6000, further burdening consumers.

Motorists expressed frustration over the dire situation, highlighting its detrimental impact on daily activities.

Salisu Baso, a civil servant in Kaduna, lamented doubling transport costs to reach his workplace at the Federal Secretariat, Kawo-Kaduna.

“We don’t even know who is right now. Is it the government or the marketers? It is very unfortunate that they are just passing the buck,” Baso remarked, calling for urgent intervention to address the socio-economic disruption.

Francisca Idika, a trader in Kaduna’s Chechnya market, echoed similar concerns, noting how increased transport costs have forced businesses to raise prices to maintain profitability.

Reports from Kano and Katsina States mirrored the distressing scenario, with soaring prices and prolonged queues at operational filling stations.

In Katsina, IT expert Alao Jaremi urged authorities to swiftly intervene and ensure nationwide availability of petrol.

“We need the government to swing into action and do the needful to alleviate the suffering of hapless Nigerians,” stated Malam Ibrahim Dan-Musa in Kano.

As the scarcity persists, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and oil marketers have traded blame over the causes of the shortage.

NNPCL cited disruptions in ship-to-ship loading of petrol between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels due to adverse weather conditions, leading to logistic challenges in supply to filling stations.

Meanwhile, marketers claimed difficulty accessing the NNPCL portal to place orders for petrol, further complicating the distribution chain.

The situation remains precarious as Nigerians grapple with the ongoing petrol crisis, awaiting decisive action from authorities to alleviate the hardship.