Long queues at gas stations in Lagos and Ogun began to form again, causing concern about the imminent scarcity of fuel.
Petroleum marketers say the non-availability of Premium Motor Spirit in filling stations located in Lagos and Ogun states is a result of a shortage in supply.
Also, Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed that there were no products in its Apapa depots.
The Punch reported that the free flow of traffic was affected by congestion at some filling stations where desperate drivers were waiting.
Commuters have been stuck in traffic at the Conoil filling station, Magboro, as motorists struggle to get fuel. The station stopped dispensing fuel later in the day.
Long queues were also observed at the Conoil filling station, Alapere, while some filling stations were not dispensing fuel at all.
The Mobil station at Victoria Island did not sell petrol on Friday, while the Amuf filling station at Ibafo recorded a long queue of vehicles waiting to get PMS.
It was the same scenario at the Eterna filling station at Oworonshoki, Northwest in Oju-Elegba, TotalEnergies, and MRS in Surulere.
The NNPC, Mobil, TAS, NIPCO, Enyo, As-Salam, and other filling stations along the Mowe-Ibafo route in Ogun State did not sell petrol either.
The Rain Oil and NNPC stations in Ibafo, Asese, and Mowe areas had long queues of motorists, while other stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were shut.
Mr Ejiogbu, who identified himself as a customer on the Ikotun Idimu Road in Lagos said, “I just noticed that there are long queues at filling stations around here and I don’t know why it is only NNPC station which delivers fuel to this area.
“I started noticing the scarcity and queues everywhere two days ago and I don’t know why.”
The scarcity has begun to affect transport fares, it has been observed.
Mrs. Ada Herbert, a trader, said, “Ikotun to Cele Express used to be between N400 and N500, but today, drivers are pegging it at N600, I don’t know if it’s because of the fuel scarcity.”
On Friday, the NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, confirmed that there were queues at the NNPCL stations, saying that there were no products at the company’s Apapa depots.
He opined that the NNPCL has carried out an evaluation and there is no sign of paucity in Lagos.
Soneye stated, “There were no products at our Apapa depots. We have carried out a review and there was no sign of scarcity in Lagos.
“It is only the NNPC Retail stations that have queues due to our price differential.”
Meanwhile, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria had a contrary opinion to that of NNPCL as it confirmed queues at its filling stations.
The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clement Isong, claimed there was low stock over the Easter weekend for some of the members, adding that this resulted from trucks out to supply stations without replenishment at its depots.
He said, however, that the depots were currently receiving PMS supplies from NNPC Trading and would continue to do so over the weekend.
Isong said, “Thank you for reaching out to us regarding the recent concerns about fuel scarcity. We understand the importance of addressing these issues promptly and transparently to provide clarity to the public.
“When things like this happen, people will start engaging in panic buying. You see people with jerry cans going to stations to buy fuel just to keep. This is very bad and dangerous. People must be sensitised to this.”
He denied the rumor that fuel was being hoarded by retailers because of a government campaign to reduce prices.
