Motorists queuing at a filling station in Lagos. Photo: Stanley Ogidi
The Federal Government began deploying security agencies to filling stations nationwide on Thursday to enforce the use of Point of Sale (POS) machines and the acceptance of bank transfers. The government warned it would act against oil marketers who refuse POS or bank transfers, emphasizing the importance of the measure amid reports that some stations were non‑compliant despite a severe cash crunch across the country.
Oil marketers, however, told our correspondent that they too are suffering from the cash shortage, which has disrupted their operations and, in some cases, prevented them from restocking.
The directive to marketers was issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). In a statement released in Abuja, the agency’s General Manager of Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Management, Kimchi Apollo, said:
> “It has come to the attention of the NMDPRA that some retail outlets are not accepting POS machines at their filling stations due to the recent cash crunch caused by the new naira design. The authority frowns upon this behaviour, which is causing untold hardship for Nigerians at a time when all hands should be on deck to assist the government in the transition to the new naira. All retail outlets are directed to ensure the free use of POS and bank transfers for the sale of petroleum products to alleviate the suffering of customers at this critical time.”
The NMDPRA added that it would collaborate with law‑enforcement agencies to ensure compliance, stating that any station found violating the directive would be sanctioned. “The authority and security agencies will be at retail outlets to ensure compliance with this directive,” the statement read, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to quality service in the sale and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.
Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Abuja‑Suleja, echoed the challenges faced by marketers: “This naira scarcity could also be a factor contributing to the queues in many filling stations. If there was enough naira, service to customers would be faster, but people hardly get money to go to the market, let alone to filling stations.” He noted that the cash crunch affects both marketers and customers, hindering transactions and even disrupting internet services needed for transfers.
National President of IPMAN, Debo Ahmed, announced on Wednesday that steps are being taken to clear the queues nationwide. In a notice to IPMAN members, he referenced a meeting held on February 7, 2023, between the association’s National Executive Council and the Managing Director of NNPC Retail Limited, during which the national oil firm pledged to set aside 140 million litres of PMS for independent marketers.
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