Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over Looming Fuel Shortage, Demand Urgent Action

Nigeria could be heading toward another round of fuel scarcity as members of the House of Representatives warn that supply disruptions may hit the country within days if immediate steps are not taken.

The alarm was raised by the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), which expressed concern over growing challenges in the nation’s fuel supply chain. According to the lawmakers, unresolved issues could trigger widespread shortages, long queues at filling stations, and a spike in petrol prices across the country.

Central to the problem is the limited supply of crude oil to domestic refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery, which plays a key role in local fuel production. The committee revealed that the facility is receiving far less crude than required to operate efficiently, a situation already affecting refining output.

The lawmakers also pointed to inefficiencies within the supply system, noting that locally produced crude is often sold through foreign intermediaries, significantly increasing costs for Nigerian refiners. These additional expenses, they said, are eventually passed on to consumers through higher fuel prices.

Concerns were further raised about the quality of crude supplied to local refineries, with calls for better-grade resources to improve production capacity and ensure stable fuel availability nationwide.

To prevent a full-blown crisis, the committee urged relevant government bodies to intervene quickly and resolve the bottlenecks affecting supply. They warned that failure to act promptly could worsen economic hardship for citizens already grappling with rising living costs.