The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has attributed the recent increase in fuel queues at filling stations across major cities to ongoing protests over hunger and governance issues.
Since last Thursday, Nigerians have been actively demonstrating under the #EndBadGovernance banner, demanding the reinstatement of fuel subsidies.
These protests have resulted in at least fifteen deaths and property damage in several states, including Kano, Niger, Jigawa, Yobe, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In response to the unrest, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a broadcast on Sunday, urging protesters to halt their demonstrations and engage in dialogue with the government.
While the outcome remains uncertain, oil marketers have pointed to the protests as the cause of the extended fuel queues. Chief Chinedu Ukadike, the National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, explained that the protests, especially on Thursday and Friday, halted truck movements, leading to operational disruptions at depots and a consequent shortage of fuel at stations.
Previously, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had cited operational issues with a few vessels as the reason for the recent fuel shortages.
