Fuel Scarcity Worsens as Lagos Depots Refuse to Load Due to Violence Fears

A protracted hunger protest in Nigeria has taken a devastating turn, causing a halt in petrol loading at the Lagos depots. The depot owners have refused to open for business, citing fears of violence and a scarcity of fuel. As a result, fuel scarcity persists, leading to a surge in prices to around N1,000 per litre in several states.

The crisis began last weekend, with the price of petrol increasing exponentially in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, and other states. Opportunistic black marketers have been making a killing, selling a litre of fuel for as much as N1,300 in some areas. The scarcity has also led to a drastic reduction in the supply of fuel to depots, with operators stating that more vessels need to berth at the ports until the weekend to ensure the circulation of premium motor spirit across the country.

In a shocking turn of events, tanker drivers have reportedly continued to load fuel despite the ongoing protest. The President of the National Association of Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, has confirmed that his organization will not participate in the protest, nor will it stop its operations. "NARTO is not part of this planned protest; we don’t support it and will not partake in it. We have told our members to continue the work they are doing," he stated.

Othman emphasized that his organization will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that fuel is circulated across the country, despite the challenges posed by the protests. "Everybody is scared, and this is the time when we should be able to service everybody. We have told our people to continue the good work they are doing, they should just be careful," he said.

As the fuel scarcity continues to wreak havoc, the public remains on edge, awaiting a resolution to the crisis.