Looks like we’re back in the petrol queue saga. You know the one – long lines, frustrated drivers, and the occasional rumor that fuel is coming… but is it really? The situation’s getting tense, especially with reports that trucks are stranded at depots, and no one’s loading petrol.
Mustapha Zarma, the National Operations Controller for Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), dropped some tough news on Friday. He made it clear – there’s no real loading going on yet, so those hopes of filling your tank without hassle? Yeah, keep dreaming. In fact, he hinted that the lines won’t start thinning out until Monday, at the earliest. Great, right?
It’s not that the supply isn’t there – it’s just not moving. Zarma explained that while some supply might start trickling in by Saturday or Sunday, as of Thursday and Friday, there wasn’t enough happening to make a dent in the queues. Even if loading did miraculously begin today, it's not likely to be significant. So, don't expect those petrol lines to disappear overnight.
And here’s a kicker – tickets that independent marketers have paid for, sometimes as long as three months ago, are still not being cleared for loading. That’s a whole lot of frustration building up.
Billy Gillis-Harry, the President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), also weighed in. He acknowledged that despite the government’s promises, marketers haven’t started lifting the products yet. This delay is why prices are skyrocketing at the few stations that still have petrol.
The struggle to keep businesses running, with a limited supply of petrol, is real. But Gillis-Harry believes there’s light at the end of this petrol-dark tunnel. Once the fuel becomes readily available, the prices should stabilize, and the lines will finally vanish. For now, though, it looks like patience – and a lot of it – is the only option.
The frustration on both sides is clear marketers want to lift the product, while drivers just want their petrol. With so many unanswered questions and no immediately solution in sight, it’s bound to stir up some passionate discussions. Where do you stand on the issue? Should the government be stepping up its response, or is this just another wave in a recurring crisis? Let's hear your thoughts.