Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria is currently mired in a crisis over the skyrocketing price of fuel, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Consumers are being faced with exorbitant prices, reaching up to N2,500 per litre, making fuel virtually inaccessible to many residents. This alarming situation stems from an ongoing clash between two key players in Nigeria’s oil industry: the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Joint Task Force (JTF).
The crisis has led to a major disruption in the transport sector in the state, with a significant decrease in the number of vehicles on the roads. Transporters have taken advantage of the situation to increase fares by over 200 percent, directly impacting the population and the local economy. The filling stations, mostly run by independent distributors, were ordered to close down in response to a strike notice issued by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). The notice followed the seizure of PMS tankers by the JTF four months ago.
Tensions have reached a boiling point, prompting IPMAN to order the closure of the filling stations in solidarity with NUPENG. The latter are demanding the release of the tankers seized by the JTF, thereby highlighting the latter’s questionable practices. According to IPMAN, this action is sanctioned by the organization’s national headquarters, and any failure to comply with the directives will attract appropriate consequences.
In the face of the escalation of tensions, Sam Osung, Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) and former adviser to the governor, has accused the Akwa Ibom State government of failing to clamp down on alleged excesses by NUPENG and IPMAN. He says these interest groups are overstepping their rights, and urges the government to act to safeguard the interests of citizens and respect the legal order.
The current situation highlights the critical issues underlying the oil sector in Nigeria, with direct consequences on daily life and the local economy. It is imperative that government authorities intervene quickly to resolve this conflict and ensure citizens have access to essential commodities such as fuel.