Nigerians endure long queues at fuel stations due to shortage: Video
Despite being one of Africa's largest oil producers, Nigeria is struggling with severe fuel shortages that have left many residents in Lagos frustrated and stranded.
The state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) acknowledged that financial strain is hampering fuel supplies despite an initial public denial of a debt.
This shortage has significantly impacted daily life, with transportation costs soaring and many people struggling to get to work or school.
Residents who spoke to AFP shared how they wait in line for hours, sometimes from early morning until afternoon, just to get a few litres of petrol.
"You always use fuel to deliver to customers. So sometimes there is pressure on our heads because a customer will order food, they'll be waiting for their food and, that's when you run low on petrol or something like that. Meanwhile, we transport food. We pick up food and deliver it to customers. And still, when you reach the first filling station (on your way, ed.), it can take about 40-45 minutes (to get fuel). At the end of the day, it's a headache because the customer rejects their food because either it got cold or it took too long," said Ismael Abdullai, a delivery bike rider for a food delivery company.
Sola Adewusi, a private driver also added "It's bad because of our leaders, they are bad. Because I don't see a reason why Nigeria would be a place where there is no fuel. There is no refinery. So that is the problem we have in Nigeria, no refinery. And they are bringing (the fuel from abroad, ed.), all these cabals, they don't want us to live. Everything is expensive. Both food (and fuel, ed.). Getting the fuel that allows us to bring food to our table is a problem. We have been in this queue now for more than four hours. I don't know when I will get the fuel."
The removal of subsidies by President Bola Tinubu, which previously kept petrol prices artificially low has led to a sharp increase in fuel prices.
Meanwhile, Nigerian army troops Wednesday, August 14 said it had destroyed at least 27 illicit refining sites and confiscated stolen crude oil after raiding illegal oil bunkering sites in the Niger River delta.
