Days to Nigeria’s General Elections, Fuel Scarcity Intensifies

Fuel scarcity intensifies 49 days to Nigeria’s general elections as Nigeria is struggling with a worsening fuel scarcity problem less than two months to its high-stakes general elections.

Across cities, the signs of the fuel scarcity are visible in the form of endless queues at filling stations. Sadly, many Nigerians are having to pay as much as N300 per litre of fuel or more after long hours of waiting in queues.

The country’s general elections are scheduled to take place in the next 49 days.

Worse scenarios outside city centres: Since December 2022, operatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have shut down many filling stations for selling fuel above the official price.

But many filling stations located in small communities outside city centres are still selling at outrageous prices, especially in the Southeast and south-south regions.
However, the Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Abuja-Suleja zone, Mohammed Shuaibu, to have said that the hike in prices is a result of the scarcity. He said that if fuel is surplus in stations, the price will be forced to reduce.
Meanwhile, a survey by Nairametrics showed that Nigerians are worried about what the situation will look like in the coming weeks. As such, they are beginning to hoard fuel. This has also led to a thriving market for black market traders who have continued to make excess profits from the situation.

Amaka, who resides in Port Harcourt, told Nairametrics that residents in the city suffer on both ends – spending hours in queues just to buy fuel and still buying at increased prices. She said:
“I am only going to drive when necessary so that the fuel I just bought will last me for a long time. I have no idea what will happen in the next few days. Maybe we will start buying at N500 per litre from stations and sleeping overnight at stations just to get fuel.”