The Real Reason Queues Are Appearing In Nigerian Fuel Stations

The Federal Government and oil marketers have allayed fears of Nigerians regarding possible increase in the pump price of fuel and scarcity following the appearance of queues in some cities and towns in the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This is even as the marketers have advised the federal government to proffer solutions to queues that are building up in some parts of the country before they snowball into major fuel crises in the country.

The oil marketers -- including Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN), Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) -- revealed that the queues surfacing in towns and cities are not caused by non-availability of petroleum products in the country, but due to denomination of charges paid on transportation of fuel coming into the country.

They urged the government to revert to the use of local currency for payment of vessels that are bringing fuel to Nigeria, adding that payment in dollars is having negative impacts on the operation of the companies in the downstream sub-sector.

This happens, as the Group Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Garba Deen Muhammad, said that the federal government is not planning to hike the official price of fuel.