The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has blamed the current fuel scarcity on challenges in the supply and distribution chain.

Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s chief corporate communications officer, said in statement on Saturday that the company was working with stakeholders to resolve the issues.

“The NNPC wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT is as a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” he said.

The company further states that it is “working round the clock with all stakeholders to resolve the situation and restore normalcy in the operations”.

Reports on Saturday indicated that oil marketers in Abuja and neighbouring states of Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi states shut down their filling stations on Friday.

Oil marketers confirmed that filling stations in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, were also closed.

The development led to the reappearance of fuel queues at outlets like AYM Shafa in Dei-Dei and NNPC in Zuba, Niger State.

The situation was similar in Lagos and Oyo states where several filling stations were shut down. Therefore, there were queues at the few stations selling fuel.

Some of the few ones selling fuel raised the price to N800 and above per litre.

Some marketers attributed the closures to fuel unavailability, while others blamed the apprehension on the planned protest.

In Ogun State, the situation reached a crisis point as long queues formed at filling stations. In Magboro and Ibafo areas along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, and buses queued for fuel.

Nigeria has recurrently struggled with fuel scarcity, causing widespread hardship for motorists and the general population.

This persistent challenge has resulted in difficulties for individuals and businesses alike, underscoring the need for a reliable and sustainable fuel supply solution.