A scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Abuja and five other states prompted the closure of many filling stations, causing lengthy queues at the remaining outlets.
Thousands of commuters across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, and Anambra found themselves stranded as transportation services were hindered by the lack of PMS needed to operate vehicles.
As a result, transport fares skyrocketed in the affected areas, with the few available transporters raising their rates.
The shortage in PMS supply to the nation’s capital and other states forced many filling stations to shut down, exacerbating the situation.
Oil marketers announced plans to meet with the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s retail subsidiary on Thursday to investigate the cause of the shortage and devise solutions.
Several filling stations, including NNPC outlets in Zuba, Niger State, and the Arab Road outlet in Kubwa, Abuja, were unable to dispense petrol on Wednesday.
Numerous other stations along the Kubwa-Zuba expressway and in Nyanya, Nasarawa State, also closed their doors.
The closure of these stations placed immense pressure on the few remaining outlets that had PMS, resulting in massive queues of motorists.
Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicles crowded around Conoil and Total filling stations near the NNPC corporate headquarters in Abuja, causing traffic congestion on roads leading to the area and adjacent businesses in the Central Business District.
Black marketers took advantage of fuel scarcity in Abuja to sell fuel N1000 per litre.