Additionally, few independent marketers sold between N800 and N940 a litre, even if pump prices have mostly stayed the same with NNPC selling at N617, Cononley at N660, and NIPCO at N695. Additionally, black marketers increased the price of a litre to between N1,100 and N1,200.
More petrol stations closed their doors to drivers Tuesday, indicating that the persistent nationwide petrol shortage—despite promises from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited)—was not going away.
Investigations conducted in the Abuja Central Area revealed that most stations run by large and independent merchants were closed, however NNPC Retail stations kept dispensing.
Additionally, few independent marketers sold between N800 and N940 a litre, even if pump prices have mostly stayed the same with NNPC selling at N617, Cononley at N660, and NIPCO at N695. Additionally, black marketers increased the price of a litre to between N1,100 and N1,200.
NNPC had three days ago blamed the ongoing petrol scarcity in Lagos and the FCT on “a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels”.
The Company stated that “it is working round the clock with all stakeholders to resolve the situation and restore normalcy in the operations”.
Speaking to Vanguard on the current petrol supply situation, the Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chief Chinedu Ukadike said most tank farms in the coastal areas were empty.
Ukadike explained that supply NNPC Limited has not been stable and as such independent marketers have had to source their products from third parties.
“Independent marketers don’t import petrol and we have to rely on others. We have been told the problem is with the vessel to vessel transfer. We are willing and ready to distribute petrol across our filling stations all over the country.
“But based on the meetings we have had the situation should normalise this week”, he stated.
He explained that filling stations operated by independent marketers were selling above N750 per litre because they have not received any supply directly from NNPC.
“Our prices are higher because we source from the third tier. So, if you go to our filling stations we won’t find queues there because our price is higher. But for NNPC and major marketers you will find queues because they sell at cheaper rates”, he added.