Many filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory are currently closed, leading to long queues at the few outlets that are dispensing petrol.
This situation is attributed to the suspension of operations by the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), as they had threatened to down tools starting on Monday.
Operators in the downstream oil sector confirmed that the closure of filling stations was due to the halt in the transportation of petroleum products by NARTO members.
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As a result, motorists faced long queues at stations that were still open, such as the NNPCL filling station on Arab Road in Kubwa and the Conoil filling station along the Zuba-Kubwa expressway.
The situation was exacerbated by the closure of many other stations run by independent marketers.
Despite efforts by oil marketers and NARTO executives to negotiate and avert the planned suspension of operations, the issue remained unresolved.
NARTO had cited the high cost of operations, particularly the price of diesel needed to power their trucks, as the reason for the suspension.
Diesel prices had surged to between N1,250 to N1,400 per litre, making it financially unsustainable for NARTO members to continue operations.
The ongoing meeting between NARTO members and the Federal Government aimed to address the issues and prevent a nationwide fuel scarcity.
The government was keen on halting the suspension of operations to avert potential fuel shortages across the country.
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