The petrol queues worsened on Tuesday after the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) ordered filling stations to shut down. Although the directive was later withdrawn, it led to fuel shortages and long lines in Abuja and surrounding states.
Heavy queues were seen at the two NNPC stations on the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway and the Shema filling station, while many independent marketers' outlets were closed. The queues were due to confusion caused by the directive from IPMAN's Maiduguri Depot branch.
IPMAN Chairman Mohammed Kuluwu had issued the directive, but it was later retracted by the National PR Officer, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, after intervention from the National Chairman and discussions with NNPC and NMDPRA. Kuluwu's statement also suspended the payment for ordering products, citing losses and the non-profitable cost price imposed by NMDPRA.
The major oil marketers in Nigeria, including the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, agreed to sell petrol at N195/litre.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in Abuja and came into effect on February 6, 2023. Despite the agreement, independent marketers expressed concerns about the high ex-depot price of the commodity and its impact on their business.
©Standard Gazette, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Standard Gazette with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.