The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recently suspended the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to independent marketers following a significant hike in petrol prices. NNPC raised its prices to ₦855 per litre, while independent marketers charged as much as ₦1,300 per litre, sparking protests and exacerbating fuel scarcity across the country. This abrupt price increase has left many commuters stranded, as transport operators either stayed off the roads or drastically raised fares due to the high cost of fuel.

In Delta State, commercial tricycle operators (keke riders) took to the streets in protest, decrying the rising fuel costs that have further strained their livelihoods. Meanwhile, fuel stations in states like Lagos and Ogun seized the opportunity to extort desperate consumers, selling petrol for as much as ₦1,600 per litre, especially at private depots where supply was limited.

The crisis worsened as many independent marketers complained that NNPC had halted their fuel supply without notice, despite payments being made months earlier. While NNPC denied ordering the price increase, it implemented the higher price across its retail outlets. However, the arrival of three fuel-laden vessels at the Apapa jetty in Lagos brought some hope of improved supply.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) condemned the price hike and called for its immediate reversal, warning that the move would further deepen poverty and hardship across Nigeria. With the public facing rising fuel and electricity costs, the TUC warned that social unrest could follow if these issues are not addressed.

Amid ongoing fuel scarcity, Nigerians are looking to the newly commissioned Dangote Refinery, hoping it might ease prices, though the full impact remains to be seen as the crisis continues to affect everyday life across the nation.