In Nigeria, Most fuel stations now sell petrol above 130 – Poll

Most people in Nigeria now buy petrol way above the normal N86.50 price. They now buy as high a N150, waiting for hours in long queues under harsh weather conditions.
Nigerians who responded to our survey on how much petrol costs in their area also indicated that while the “new generation or small” fuel stations are more guilty of selling above the normal price, the “big multinationals” sell at normal price but have longer queues.
According to the survey, only 11.2 percent of our respondents get petrol at N86.50. A mere 1.1 percent buy at N100, while 11.5 percent buy at N130. The highest number of people (27.9 percent) buys the commodity at N140 while the remaining 25.4 percent buy above N140.



Words like “bad”, “terrible”, “horrible”, “hectic”, “insane” and a few unprintable words were employed by almost 70 percent of respondents to describe their experiences on the queues for fuel.

Screen shot of respondents’answers

Apart from the physical exhaustion that comes with hustling for fuel, respondents also point out its impact on their business.

“It is a terrible experience to behold,” one respondent said. “Queuing for long hours not even certain of fueling your car; it is quite frustrating and exhausting. Imagine being on queue and business associates are calling to transact a business or to conclude outstanding deals. The experience doesn’t have a better word to describe it.”

“Very pathetic experience, spending more useful time in the queue and more money at that,” another respondent said. “Still salary remains the same. Government should do something fast.”

From Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, a respondent said, there are several people as expected due to the normal price which is N86:50 at MRS filling station, Isale Igbein Abeokuta. The manager has firm control of the surging crowd. I believe she is respected due to her truthfulness and transparency. Several other filling stations in Abeokuta however sell at between N120-150/Ltr.”

From Asaba, the capital of Delta State, a respondent said, “Obviously there is fuel in most filling stations in my location (Asaba), there are no queues actually because of the price. However, there are massive queues in stations selling at govt prices.”

From the capital of Rivers State, a respondent said, “In Port Harcourt city center the stations don’t sell. In the outskirts petrol is sold above N150 in the stations. Where it is sold at N86.50 there are very long queues.”

In “Lokoja, Kogi State capital, very long queues are seen at NNPC filling stations which I cannot bear,” a respondent said.  “Major petroleum marketers such as Conoil, Total, etc are not selling as their stations are closed for operation and individual marketers are selling at N170.”

From Ikare Akoko, one of Ondo State’s major cities a respondent said, “No much queues at few private filling stations that are selling in Ikare Akoko. Most Major marketers have no fuel to sell but the private marketers are selling at N150.00.”

“I live at Afikpo Ebonyi State; here Petrol is sold between 180 Naira and 200 Naira a litre,” a respondent said.

“In my area, Aja lekki Lagos, they are selling at the normal price 86.50k but you must be on queues from morning till evening before getting the product,” another respondent said.

From Niger State a respondent said, “I bought petrol for 180 naira in Minna.”
Some respondents even raised issues about the quality of the fuel available in their locations. They call on the government to quickly find a solution.