Economy

Panic as queues surface in Abuja

Published

7 months ago

July 6, 2024

Austin Ojomah

* Depots reportedly hike price to N710/litre

By Francesca Hangeior.

Fresh queues for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, surfaced in Abuja, parts of Niger and Nasarawa States on Friday, following the closure of many filling stations operated by independent marketers.

According to reports, dealers closed their retail outlets due to their inability to access petrol as a result of the hike in the ex-depot price of the commodity to N710/litre by private depot owners.

Motorists besieged the few stations that dispensed petrol on Friday, particularly those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and some major oil marketers in Abuja and neighbouring states.

This led to massive queues in outlets, such as the NNPC mega station on the Gwarimpa axis of the Zuba-Kubwa Expressway, Conoil and Total filling stations directly opposite the headquarters of NNPC in the Abuja city centre, and Salbas filling station at the Dei-Dei end of the Zuba-Kubwa expressway, among others.

Independent oil marketers, who own over 70 per cent of filling stations across the country, blamed the hike in the ex-depot price of petrol as dispensed by private depot owners.

The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi, said that private depot owners had raised the ex-depot price of PMS to N710/litre, whereas the pump price of the commodity at NNPC retail stations was N617/litre.

Maigandi said, “The current situation is a result of how the private depot owners have been selling their products. It has been very difficult for independent petroleum marketers to get the product and sell it in Abuja and neighbouring states, as well as in other states in the North.

“So, the queues you are seeing now are because of the cost of PMS by private depots. The private depots are selling at N710/litre, but if you check the price of the same product at NNPC retail outlets, it is N617/litre.

“Therefore, by the time the independent marketers buy from private depots and bring it to our filling stations, we will not be able to sell our product because our cost price is already so high, while the cost at NNPC retail outlets is far lower.

“And you know that when we buy it at the rate of N710/litre, we have to add transportation cost again because there is no equalisation. And when we add the cost of transportation, the pump price is going to be higher than the N710/litre ex-depot price, whereas NNPC stations sell at N617/litre.”

Maigandi explained that because of the widespread number of stations operated by IPMAN, any distortion in the supply of products to members of the group would lead to fuel queues because major marketers and NNPC stations were fewer in number.

On whether IPMAN members cannot get direct PMS supply from NNPC, instead of buying the product from private depots, he replied, “That is what we have been negotiating with them (NNPC), and they promised us that they will start giving us our allocation.

“They have started, but the quantity is small compared to the number of retail outlets operated by IPMAN nationwide. We are getting products from NNPC, but the volume is too small for our members.

“So, we are requesting additional volumes because, in Abuja alone, we have over 250 retail outlets belonging to IPMAN members. This is just for Abuja. We have not talked about Niger, Kaduna, and other states in the North, not to mention the number nationwide.”

Maigandi, however, stated that the queues for petrol were not pronounced in remote villages, adding that “when you go to the villages, you will see that there are no queues.”.

“But in the city centres, where you have NNPC stations selling very cheaper than the N710/litre price, you will see queues there, as well as in front of the few outlets that have products to dispense.”

The IPMAN president said petrol was not scarce, as there were enough volumes in-country concerning what was imported by NNPC – Nigeria’s sole importer of the commodity.

Related Topics:Abuja fuel queues surface

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Economy

SEE Exchange Rates Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate In Lagos, FCT, 28 January 2025

Published

19 hours ago

January 28, 2025

Naijablitznews

Bureau De Change (BDC) sources in Gwarimpa and Gwagwalada in FCT buy a dollar for N1685 and sell it for N1700 on Tuesday, January 28, 2024.

Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate in Lagos and FCT today, 28 January 2025.

The official naira black market exchange rate in Lagos and FCT, Abuja today including the Black Market rates, Bureau De Change (BDC), and CBN rates.

According to Bureau De Change (BDC) sources in the Ogba and Ikeja axis of Lagos state, the exchange rate for a dollar to naira at the Parallel Market (Black Market) is N1700 on Tuesday, January 28, 2024, players bought a dollar for N1685 and sold it for N1700.

Bureau De Change (BDC) sources in Gwarimpa and Gwagwalada in FCT buy a dollar for N1685 and sell it for N1700 on Tuesday, January 28, 2024.

Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.

Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Lagos
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate N1685
Selling Rate N1700
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate FCT, Abuja
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Buying Rate N1685
Selling Rate N1700
Please note that the rates you buy or sell forex may differ from what is captured in this article because prices vary from state to state across Nigeria.

Economy

Naira rebounces against US Dollar, gains N10

Published

21 hours ago

January 28, 2025

Naijablitznews

The Nigerian Naira appreciated against the dollar in the parallel exchange market on Monday, recording a gain of ₦10.

A Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Abubakar Alhasan, disclosed to DAILY POST that the Naira strengthened to ₦1,650 per dollar on Monday, compared to ₦1,660 recorded last Friday.

This improvement in the parallel market indicates a positive development for the local currency, which has faced persistent challenges in recent months.

However, in the official foreign exchange market, the Naira experienced a slight drop. According to data from the Financial Markets Dealers Quotation (FMDQ), the currency traded at ₦1,533.63 per dollar on Monday, compared to ₦1,531.20 last Friday, reflecting a marginal depreciation of ₦2.43.

The Naira’s performance continues to show mixed sentiments across different market segments. While the parallel market has seen a modest gain, the official window reflects a slight loss. This volatility underscores ongoing challenges despite efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stabilize the currency.

Recent Trends
Over recent months, the Naira has fluctuated in value due to a combination of factors, including fluctuating forex demand, limited dollar supply, and monetary policy adjustments. The CBN’s interventions, including forex reforms and measures to improve liquidity, have aimed to address these issues, though the currency continues to experience periodic pressure.

Economy

We’ll fix economy, security , fight corruption — VP Shettima

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians of the commitment of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, administration to fight corruption, fix the economy, improve national cohesion and strengthen the independence of the judiciary.

Shettima gave this assurance at the national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

The conference themed, ‘Strengthening Nigeria’s democracy: Pathways to good governance and political integrity’,was organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development.

Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on political issues, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, admitted that while democracy is not a perfect system, compared to others, it is the best form of government.

“We will listen and adjust where necessary, and we will account for our stewardship in all matters our challenging democratic systems demand.

“I am convinced that Nigeria shall rise again, answer to its full potential and lead the way to a future that has learnt lessons from a difficult past into a world in which our country will be a key player, and our young will be active champions of a democratic system because it speaks to them.

“It has been said many times that democracy is an imperfect system, yet superior to all others.

“We will continue to seek to provide evidence of the values of the democratic systems by, among others, fixing major weaknesses of our economy, securing our communities, fighting corruption, supporting free and fair elections, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving national cohesion,” he said.

Shettima urged Nigerians to support the current administration in this challenging but ultimately rewarding journey, dtressing that the Bola Tinubu administration has a major interest in the quality of the democratic system.