Fuel scarcity is choking Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, and other Nigerian cities.

The Federal Government says it has contained the 90 million litres of bad PMS imported into Nigeria. Checks by Vanguard showed that in Abuja city centre, only two major marketers were open to motorists, with queues stretching over two kilometres. Most of the areas visited around Alimosho, Isolo, Ikeja, and Yaba Local Government Areas of the state witnessed long queues of vehicles at both the filling stations dispensing fuel and those not dispensing.  The negative effect of fuel scarcity also continued in Lagos State as few filling stations were dispensing petroleum products to motorists, while others shut their gates, forcing transport fares to skyrocket on most routes. Fares for short distances of about four or five stops away on commercial buses and tricycles have risen from N50 to N100.

The development has left commuters, including civil servants, pupils, and students, trekking long distances to and from their destinations. In Ibadan, it was observed that the price of a litre of petroleum was between N200 and N300 in many of the independent marketers' petrol stations. Vanguard visited filling stations in Monatan, Iyana Church, Iwo Road, Sango, Akobo and Total Garden. Many residents who spoke about the fuel situation decried the unnecessary hardship they were subjected to in getting petrol as the scarcity was biting harder in major parts of Ibadan and neighbouring towns, forcing many people to spend hours at the filling stations. The suffering is too much.

We hope respite is on the way because we cannot continue like this, Akinnimi says. Mrs Omolara Aina, a mother of two, says she cannot take her children to school because of fuel scarcity. Motorists and residents have been bemoaning the hike in transportation prices due to increased fuel prices in most filling stations. Ademola Kayode, a commercial motorcyclist plying the Adeoyo–Challenge Route, said he got fuel at N250 per litre on Monday night. Because of the fuel scarcity, life is difficult for residents now.