Frequent petrol shortages are not uncommon in the world’s 5th largest oil producer, but the sudden return of queues at service stations nationwide about a fortnight ago, in spite of the glut in world markets, jolted many Nigerians. The ugly sights of vehicles that snaked for kilometres out of filling stations were a reminder of the enduring fragility of the fuel distribution system in the country, and the instability in the petroleum industry generally. As often the case, it was payday for black marketers, who sold at between 150 naira and 250 naira per litre, against the official price of 85 naira per litre. As the shortage bit harder, the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) announced that a billion litres of the commodity would be imported to bridge shortfalls in supply. As usual, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources announced that there was sufficient stock of petrol […]