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 As fuel shortages intensify, the illegal market explodes at N300 per litre.

We can't justify cutting off subsidies since Western nations also provide fuel subsidies, says Buhari

On Tuesday, the country's fuel shortage got worse, forcing drivers to spend hours at gas stations in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, and other locations.

The solution for oil marketers to the worsening fuel lines across the country is for the Federal Government to authorize an increase in the commodity's pump price.

Even though some retailers had already increased the price of petrol in their locations, they admitted that the action had not received official approval and mentioned that retailers could face penalties for selling beyond the set price.

Marketers are actively fighting against the approved pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as gasoline, which they claim is no longer viable given the worldwide economic crisis.Petrol was being sold to motorists at a retail location in Abuja's Kubwa Village Market for N195 a litre, and lines were still out the door.

In the few gas stations that Tuesday that sold gasoline at the authorized cost, long fuel lines could be seen. They included, among others, the NNPC at Gwarimpa on the Zuba-Kubwa motorway, the Total filling station next to the NNPC headquarters, and the Nipco filling station in Zuba. The cost of diesel used to transport these products to retail stations has increased from about N250/litre a few months ago to about N850/litre at this time, according to Zarma Mustapha, Deputy National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria. This crisis can be resolved by raising the price of gasoline and getting it approved.

The IPMAN representative said that the prolonged global energy crisis, which had lasted for almost four months since the start of the Ukraine/Russia war, was the cause of the extensive lineups in Nigeria.

"As a result of that situation, oil prices have skyrocketed, and Russia, the world's largest supplier of diesel, is unreachable. Consequently, despite the fact that our refineries are operating normally, people cannot acquire diesel.The shortage of diesel, the main product we use to carry fuel to filling stations, has gotten worse because we completely rely on imported diesel, he continued.

"The marketers have consulted with the government to determine how we might minimize the negative consequences of the increase in the price of diesel. But regrettably, as a result of the price increase, the government increased its evaluation of the bridging claims.

He observed that despite modest increases in bridging rates in May and June of this year, the changes were still insufficient to cover the cost of product delivery. While adding that it had been proven that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had enough stock.

''Mustapha said that marketers were speaking with the Federal Government. Adding that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had sufficient stock had been validated. 

Garba-Deen Mohammed, the NNPC spokeswoman, said our correspondent that the national oil company was figuring out anything in relation to the situation and vowed to reply. But as of the time this piece was submitted, he had still not responded.

Drivers bemoan a fee increase of 100%

As a result of the state's gasoline shortage, travellers in Lagos had been complaining about the increase in transportation costs.

One of our journalists investigated the situation in several areas of the state and learned that much of Lagos had experienced a 100% surge in transportation costs.

''Passenger in a commercial bus, Moradekemi Kolawole, exclaimed, "This is too much. You won't believe that I paid N400 from Ogba to Ikeja instead of the customary N200. But as of the time this piece was submitted, he had still not responded.

Drivers bemoan a fee increase of 100%

As a result of the state's gasoline shortage, travellers in Lagos had been complaining about the increase in transportation costs.

One of our journalists investigated the situation in several areas of the state and learned that much of Lagos had experienced a 100% surge in transportation costs.

Passenger in a commercial bus, Moradekemi Kolawole, exclaimed, "This is too much. You won't believe that I paid N400 to get from Ogba to Ikeja instead of the customary N200. Now that I'm headed to Berger, the drivers are telling me it will cost N300 rather than N150.

Another traveler, who only went by the name Dele, exclaimed, " I arrived at Secretariat today from Magboro, and I'm presently leaving. Already, I've spent N800. Additionally, it used to be only N400.

Dimeji Olaiya, a commercial bus driver, indicated that the rise in transportation costs was a result of the shortage of fuel and warned that things would get worse over the following few days. This is not the first time it has happened. When I arrived at the gas station yesterday at around 6 p.m. and left at about 10:30 p.m., I was unable to purchase gasoline at the standard price. So, how do you anticipate me to provide passenger service at the going rate? It won't work," he declared.

Marketers insist on price increases, and gas stations change the pumps and stockpile goods.

It was also noted that some gas stations started stockpiling goods while those in Lagos who sold gasoline had to raise the cost of the good.

Additionally, the Nigeria Customs Service of FOU Zone A, Ikeja, distributed petroleum items that had been auctioned off at higher costs.

Petrol was reportedly sold to customers at the functional warehouse of on Monday, the unit.

When one of our reporters went to the store on Tuesday morning and pretended to be a customer, they were informed that the item was out of stock.

The fuel won't be available again until next Monday, according to a female trader who frequents the area around the warehouse and bought the merchandise to resell it there. Yesterday, everything was sold. Only on Mondays do they sell to customers. 

The female merchant advised our reporter not to spend his time because she wouldn't start selling until the following Monday when he insisted on waiting to see if the goods will be distributed.

If you had arrived yesterday, you would have received fuel, remarked another woman who only went by the name Joy. People were in large numbers yesterday, as they sold from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. You must arrive early to register your name if you plan to visit on Monday. The police sell to those whose names are registered. You will have to wait a while before they start calling names once you do that.

We discovered that the company has been around for a while and wasn't as a results of fuel subsidies.

Osinachi Nwachukwu, a deceased gospel singer, will be buried this Saturday in Abia.

Late Osinachi Nwachukwu

On June 25, 2022, in Abia State, the deceased gospel musician Osinachi Nwachukwu's body will be interred.

The singer of "Ekwueme" passed away on April 8, 2022, amid extensive claims from her family, friends, and colleagues that her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, who is currently on trial, beat her to death. She allegedly died of lung cancer, according to Mr. Nwachukwu, who disputes the allegation.According to her obituary poster, a night of worship will hold in Abuja on Thursday, June 23 while a Night of Prayer will hold in Isochi, Umunoci in Abia state on June 24. She will be interred in her father's compound on Saturday, June 25.