Abuja, Nigeria — June 3, 2025
Nigeria may face a looming fuel shortage ahead of the Eid al-Adha holidays as the collapse of a critical bridge in Mokwa, Niger State, continues to disrupt the transportation of petroleum products to the northern region.
The bridge, a key link between Northern and Southwestern Nigeria, gave way last Wednesday following one of the deadliest floods in the region’s recent history. While official figures from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) place the death toll at 153, local accounts suggest the number of casualties may be significantly higher.
The collapse has brought traffic, including petrol-laden trucks, to a halt, particularly affecting supply routes from the South to the North. Fuel station officials in Abuja have expressed concern that the disruption may cause scarcity during the Eid al-Adha festivities slated for June 6 and 9.
An anonymous source at MRS filling station confirmed that several trucks have been forced to turn back due to the impassable road, resulting in increased transportation costs and delays. “Most of our trucks are stranded,” the source stated. “Unless the government acts swiftly, we might see fuel scarcity in Abuja and parts of Northern Nigeria during the holiday.”
Another official at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) echoed this concern, noting that alternative supply routes via Port Harcourt and Warri may not be sufficient to fully meet demand in the region.
The Mokwa Bridge remains the most direct route from the Dangote Refinery in Lagos to central and northern Nigeria, heightening concerns over the potential impact on fuel distribution.
However, national stakeholders offered mixed responses. Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association (PETROAN), sought to calm fears, assuring that members are working with major distributors such as 11 PLC and Matrix to ensure adequate supply from other regions.
“There is no need for panic,” Gillis-Harry said. “We have alternatives, and our members are committed to ensuring uninterrupted fuel availability during Sallah.”
In contrast, James Tor, National Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), warned that unless the federal government swiftly repairs the collapsed bridge or establishes a viable alternative route, fuel supply disruptions are inevitable.
“The Mokwa Bridge is critical,” Tor noted. “Its collapse will hinder the free movement of petroleum products. With Sallah around the corner, this could lead to serious shortages.”
This development coincides with a recent adjustment in petrol prices by NNPCL and the Dangote Refinery, bringing rates in Abuja and Lagos down to between ₦875 and ₦910 per litre.
The federal government has declared Friday, June 6, and Monday, June 9, as public holidays for Eid al-Adha, intensifying urgency around the situation.
