Akwa Ibom: Despite Being an Oil-Producing State, Petrol Sells for N2,500 Per Litre, Over NUPENG, JTF Face-Off

The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) skyrocketed to N2,500 per litre in Akwa Ibom on Tuesday, leaving residents scrambling for fuel as the standoff between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Joint Task Force (JTF) continues to cripple supply.

According to reports, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) members are engaging in panic sales, leading to a drastic fuel shortage across the state.

Vanguard reported that most independent filling stations in Uyo and surrounding areas have shut down in compliance with IPMAN’s directive, following the “Notice of Withdrawal of Services Over Confiscation of PMS-Loaded Trucks by JTF Personnel.”

The conflict, which has lingered for months, escalated when the JTF seized PMS-loaded trucks belonging to IPMAN members over allegations of smuggling.

The JTF’s Operation Delta Safe (ODS) had impounded two trucks and 44 drums of PMS from six filling stations in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, accusing them of involvement in illegal petroleum product trade.

In solidarity with NUPENG, IPMAN called for the shutdown of filling stations, leading to severe fuel scarcity and a dramatic increase in transportation costs, with fares surging by over 200%.

NUPENG has also blocked petroleum tankers from entering Akwa Ibom, compounding the crisis and leaving consumers stranded.

IPMAN argues that the JTF has held the seized fuel trucks for over four months without resolution, prompting them to take drastic action.

However, Sam Osung, State Chairman of the Natural Oil and Gas Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) and a former aide to Governor Umo Eno, criticised the marketers for not seeking legal recourse. He accused IPMAN and NUPENG of holding the state’s residents hostage rather than addressing their grievances in court.

Osung further blamed the state government for not intervening in the matter, stating,

The government is aware of these excesses, but no one is addressing them. They should act like a government and resolve this crisis before it worsens.

Residents of Akwa Ibom, one of Nigeria’s oil-producing states, have been hit hardest by the fuel scarcity, as transportation options dwindle and prices for essential goods rise alongside the cost of fuel.

Transporters have raised fares by over 200%, and the number of vehicles on the roads has drastically reduced due to the fuel shortage.

Despite calls for a resolution, the impasse between NUPENG, IPMAN, and the JTF continues, leaving Akwa Ibom’s residents in a dire situation with no end.

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