Xavier Radio Ug News 24 7
Afolakemi Ofili, a teacher in Lagos, paid 20,000 naira ($14) to buy petrol on Monday, enough for just 19 litres, barely moving the needle on her fuel gauge.
“Before, if I bought fuel for 20 000 naira, it could give me maybe like 25 litres,” Ofili said as she drove past an empty Petrocam petrol station at sunrise. “You can imagine what Nigeria is turning into now.”
Fuel prices in Nigeria have climbed from about 760 naira per litre in the last few weeks to as high as 1 300 naira, as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran drives up global crude and freight costs.
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery said on Thursday it will prioritize supply to the domestic market following the outbreak of war but raised its petrol ex-depot price by around 7.5 cents, roughly 13% increase.
“I pray God intervenes in the war so that it will come to an end because this fuel shortage or fuel increase will affect everybody,” Ofili said. “It will make food prices go up, many things will go up, transportation will also go up.”
Dangote’s gasoline supply to the local market recently reached 40.1 million litres, just over two-thirds of Nigeria’s daily requirements of 60 million litres, according to the regulator’s latest data. The refinery said it was sourcing additional crude at prevailing international prices, with Nigerian crude grades currently $3-$6 per barrel more expensive than Brent.
Ofili said if the shortage persists, she will switch to public transport, joining the crowds of passengers rushing to board vans at Lagos bus stops.
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/1111671-2/
