Long lines to buy fuel reemerges as a result of #ENDSARS protests

ICMS Inc News Reports.
By Tom Okure, Ph.D

Queuing to buy fuel in Abuja and other large cities in Nigeria has always been a problem no matter which administration or political party was in power. However, over the past year, the scarcity of fuel and the price for fuel has been relatively stable. The EndSars protests has been very disruptive to both economic and social life.

The persistent demonstrations going on coupled with the vandalism and the destruction of both private and public property by hoodlums merged with the EndSars protesters, has adversely impacted economic activity in many major Nigerian cities including Abuja. According to Nigerian fuel marketers, ten of their fuel tankers were attacked by #EndSars hoodlums merged with protesters. These attacks has caused consumer fears which has created panic buying of petroleum products especially in Abuja FCT and the surrounding arrears.

Most fuel stations in Abuja including many NNPC retail stations were closed on Monday October 26, 2020 and some still remain closed as of the writing of this report.

Official statements by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) warns the public against panic buying of petroleum products, stating that “NNPC has over two billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in stock to guarantee steady supply, and at least 60 -day-product supply sufficiency.”….. “There is no need for panic buying, be rest assured that supply will soon return to the entire country.”

Mr. Kennie Obateru who is an NNPS spokesperson indicated that the scarcity situation will be resolved in a few days. According to him “Normalcy is expected to return to the petroleum products supply chain in the next couple of days.”

It is not clear how long the #EndSars protests will last or the disruption to economic activity. One thing is clear that an already difficult living condition imposed by the demonstrations are becoming even worse by the imposition of curfews by many State governments resulting in the difficulty of fuel tanks to deliver their fuel products to their destinations in a timely manner.      

Video Excerpt below: Courtesy of ChannelsTv 

Follow this Link  #ENDSARS Aftermath: Queues Resurface In Fuel Stations