The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has attributed fuel scarcity witnessed in some parts of the country to the ongoing nationwide protests. Reports from major cities across the country, including in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Lagos, Delta, Katsina, etc., indicate a sharp return of queues at major fueling stations over the weekend. Responding to queries by reporters, IPMAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, said marketers were advised to close their stations during the protest to avoid losing their assets.
He also stated that many tankers did not load products during the first and second days of the protest, stressing that this distortion in the supply chain would cause shortages in states where the products would have been supplied.
“Although the National President of IPMAN, Abubakar Maigandi, urged independent marketers to go out and do their businesses normally and asked the security agencies to protect our facilities, it is pertinent to note that as at the time we were about to sell, we were called by the security agencies to step down the selling of products at that time.
“They said this is because they want to be able to control the situation during the protest and the vandalism of marketers’ properties. Now that the trucks are no longer moving due to this protest, the depots are not working, the truck drivers are not driving, particularly during the first and second days of the protest, these issues have disrupted the supply of petroleum products. So, it will result in scarcity at the filling stations,” Ukadike stated.
Reports emerged on Friday that the hunger protest halted petrol loading at the Lagos depots, causing fuel scarcity to persist. Sources say depot owners refused to open for business over fears of violence.
An operator who pleaded anonymity stated that members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers were ready to support the depots in loading fuel. Still, the depot owners refused to take a risk.
“There were no activities at the Lagos depots on Thursday and Friday for two obvious reasons. One, we are still battling the paucity of the product; and two, the security concern on the roads after loading due to the hardship protest.
“NUPENG is ready to support depots to load, but the security situation is a drawback. Hopefully, if the situation improves later today loading may continue tomorrow,” the source had stated.
The IPMAN PRO, however, stated on Sunday that some trucks had commenced skeletal operations, and expressed hope that the fuel supply situation would improve provided the protests abate considerably.
“But now that some trucks have started skeletal operations and businesses are gradually resuming, the independent marketers will also return to business to address the fuel scarcity. However, it will not disappear immediately, rather it is going to clear gradually.
“So, it is important to state that the protests, particularly during the first and second days, truncated the supply value chain, leading to fuel scarcity in many states. So, it is the ripple effect of the protest that we are feeling now as fuel scarcity, but we hope to clear it.
“I will also want to use this opportunity to call on the protesters to stop the protests. The President has pleaded with them and has heard their demands. Let us therefore give him time to act by addressing these demands. And this can only be done when the protests stop,” he said.
