Food: Fuel scarcity looms as PETROAN, IPMAN react

There is looming fuel scarcity as the deadliest flood killed hundreds of persons and brought down the bridge in Mokwa, Niger State, connecting Northern Nigeria with the southwestern part of the country.

The bridge that collapsed last Wednesday has disrupted human and vehicular movements around the Mokwa Bridge, with petroleum product trucks not left out.

Although the death toll from the Mokwa, Niger, flood remained controversial, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported 153, but community members had suggested a higher death toll.

Speaking on the effect of the bridge collapse, senior officials at MRS and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited filling stations in Abuja hinted that the collapsed Mokwa Bridge may result in petroleum product scarcity during the 2025 Eid al-Adha (Sallah) celebration and holidays slated for June 6th and 9th.

An MRS official, who preferred anonymity, told Newsmen that the development may disrupt distribution.

He, however, ensured that the petrol price would remain at N895 per litre during the Sallah break.

“Most of the petrol trucks are stranded due to the Mokwa Niger State bridge collapse.

“Honestly, I foresee fuel scarcity in Abuja and some parts of Northern Nigeria.

“I hope the government fixes the bridge on time, as our trucks had already made a u-turn, which is more expensive and time-consuming”.

Another source at NNPCL agreed with the official at MRS, noting that the development may lead to fuel scarcity if adequate supply does not come from other routes such as Port Harcourt and Warri.

Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery, Nigeria’s only domestic producer of petroleum, is located in Lekki, Lagos State. Mokwa Bridge is the easiest route to Abuja and Northern Nigeria.

Reacting to the development, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association, Billy Gillis-Harry, and the National Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, James Tor, gave Newspaper a very different perspective.

On his part, Gillis-Harry assured that its members would ensure an adequate supply of petrol from alternative sources and routes in Port Harcourt, Rivers, and Delta States to Abuja and across Nigeria.

According to him, there would be an adequate petrol supply throughout this year’s Eid al-Adha.

“One or two companies’ experiences in Abuja will not bring scarcity of petrol supply in Abuja and Nigeria.

“Our members will work with 11 PLC and Matrix to get supply from Port Harcout, Rivers and Delta states.

“The only thing is the transportation turnaround time.

“Our members will do their best to make sure fuel supply is available across the country during the Sallah.

“There should not be scarcity because we have alternatives,” he said.

However, Tor said the Mokwa Bridge collapse may lead to fuel supply shortages in Abuja and northern states.

He urged the federal government to quickly fix the collapsed bridge or resuscitate an alternative route to avert a possible looming fuel scarcity during the Eid al-Adha.

“The federal government needs to be proactive so that the other route is put into use for free vehicular and human movement across the regions.

“The Mokwa Bridge collapse will affect the free flow of supply.

“This will cause shortages. The unfortunate thing is that Salah is around the corner,” he told DAILY POST.

VAM News reports that the development comes as NNPCL, Dangote Refinery, and partners recently announced the latest reduction in the price of petrol to between N875 per litre and N910 per litre in Lagos and Abuja.

On Monday, the Nigerian government declared Friday, June 6, and Monday, June 9, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid al-Adha.