Residents of Sokoto State have been grappling with the devastating effects of fuel scarcity, which has inflicted untold hardship across all parts of the state.

The scarcity has severely impacted businesses and daily activities, leaving commuters and residents distressed.

Commuters lamented the closure of most filling stations, citing purported product shortages as the reason behind the shutdown.

Meanwhile, black marketers have seized the opportunity to exploit the situation, selling a litre of petrol at exorbitant prices ranging between N2,000 and N2,500 across the metropolis.

Some residents expressed frustration and called on the government to intervene urgently to alleviate the prevailing crisis before it worsens.

They emphasized that the fuel scarcity has begun to disrupt business operations and exacerbate the challenges of daily life, particularly with the skyrocketing black market prices making fuel increasingly inaccessible.

In response to the crisis, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) attributed the resurgence of fuel queues in Lagos, Abuja, and other states to logistical challenges. However, the company assured the public that these issues have been addressed.

In a statement released on Thursday evening, NNPC Ltd emphasized that the prices of petroleum products remain unchanged and urged Nigerians to refrain from panic buying, reassuring them of the availability of sufficient fuel stocks nationwide.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved,” the company said in a statement on Thursday evening.

“It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.”

NNPCL called on Nigerians to “avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country”.