The hunger protest that began on Thursday led to a halt in petrol loading at the Lagos depots, causing fuel scarcity to persist.
Sources confirmed to The PUNCH that the depot owners refused to open for business over fears of violence.
Recall that the fuel scarcity started last weekend in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Niger and other states, raising the price of petrol to around N1,000 per litre.
Black marketers have since seized the opportunity to do brisk business, selling a litre for as much as N1,300 in some areas.
Our correspondent learnt that the depots were running dry as of Sunday due to the inability of vessels to discharge fuel.
On Wednesday, it was gathered that the fuel vessels were coming one after the other to discharge petrol.
Operators told our correspondent that more vessels needed to berth at the ports till the weekend to ensure the circulation of premium motor spirit across the country.
However, as the protest started on Thursday, the depot owners reportedly refused to load the product over security concerns.
An operator, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers were ready to support the depots in loading fuel, but the depot owners refused to take a risk.
The hunger protest that began on Thursday led to a halt in petrol loading at the Lagos depots, causing fuel scarcity to persist.
Sources confirmed to The PUNCH that the depot owners refused to open for business over fears of violence.
Recall that the fuel scarcity started last weekend in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Niger and other states, raising the price of petrol to around N1,000 per litre.
Black marketers have since seized the opportunity to do brisk business, selling a litre for as much as N1,300 in some areas.
Our correspondent learnt that the depots were running dry as of Sunday due to the inability of vessels to discharge fuel.
On Wednesday, it was gathered that the fuel vessels were coming one after the other to discharge petrol.
Operators told our correspondent that more vessels needed to berth at the ports till the weekend to ensure the circulation of premium motor spirit across the country.
However, as the protest started on Thursday, the depot owners reportedly refused to load the product over security concerns.
An operator, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers were ready to support the depots in loading fuel, but the depot owners refused to take a risk.
