Concerns As Fuel Scarcity Cripples Businesses In Border Towns Six Years After Buhari’s Directive

Six years after the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari banned the supply of petroleum products to filling stations within 20 kilometres of Nigeria’s land borders, the policy continues to generate hardship for residents and businesses in affected communities.

Naija News reports that the restriction, introduced in November 2019 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to curb fuel smuggling and cut off supplies to criminal networks, has left many border settlements struggling with limited access to petrol, rising transport costs and dependence on black market operators.

In several communities across Ogun State and other border regions, residents say the impact has been severe, forcing them to travel long distances or pay exorbitant prices for fuel despite subsequent waivers granted to a number of filling stations to ease the crisis.

In Ogun State, the fuel restriction has continued to cripple businesses and disrupt livelihoods in border communities across Ipokia, Imeko Afon, Yewa North and Yewa South local government areas.

Although the Federal Government partially lifted the ban on March 18, 2020, by approving waivers for 66 filling stations in border areas to resume operations, residents say the measure has not sufficiently addressed their hardship.

The waiver, managed by the Nigeria Customs Service and the Office of the National Security Adviser, was contained in a circular aimed at easing the severe fuel scarcity in affected communities.

The approved stations were spread across several border areas, including Cross River/Akwa Ibom, Kano/Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara and Ogun states.

‘Fuel Sold For ₦2,000 Per litre’ – Community leader

Despite the waiver, residents told Daily Post that the crisis peaked in 2024, when black marketers sold petrol at exorbitant prices.

The CDA Chairman of Iwoye-Ketu in Imeko Afon Local Government Area, Ahmed Ismaila, disclosed that transportation costs tripled during the crisis while petrol sold for as high as ₦2,000 per litre.

He said, “It was a serious case here. One litre was sold for ₦2,000 here. We can’t even buy it at the filling stations, it’s only through the black market.

“From Iwoye to Imeko, I paid ₦3,000 for transportation. The same distance used to be ₦700-₦800. Only one filling station was selling, and customers besieged the station.”

Findings also showed that petrol sold for between ₦1,300 and ₦1,400 per litre in Idiroko and Ijofin communities, as black marketers reportedly travelled to Owode and Ota to purchase fuel for resale.

FG Grants Additional Waivers

In May 2025, the Federal Government of Nigeria granted waivers to five additional petrol stations in Ogun State to resume operations, providing some relief to residents.

The approved stations were located in Imeko, Ilara, Oja Odan and Ohunbe communities across Yewa North and Imeko-Afon local government areas.

The lawmaker representing Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, said the waivers followed sustained advocacy by stakeholders in the area.

According to him, at least 161 filling stations fall within restricted border communities, adding that the approval marked a step toward fairness.

“This represents more than just a policy shift; it is a restoration of dignity, a rekindling of hope, and a step towards economic justice.

“This is just the beginning, our voice will not waver, our resolve remains firm. The well-being of our people is not negotiable,” he said in a statement issued by his media aide.

Residents welcomed the development, noting that petrol now sells for ₦800-₦900 per litre at filling stations and about ₦1,200 from black marketers.

Ismaila, however, said some communities, including Gbayi, remain affected and urged the government to lift the ban completely.

“They are now selling fuel here at Iwoye. They gave waivers to about two filling stations, but ordinarily, we have about five filling stations here.

“So, the price has dropped to ₦800–₦900 per litre but that doesn’t stop black marketers. Most times when there is no fuel at these stations, black marketers who have hoarded the product will then have field days and sell for ₦1,200 per litre.

“Some communities like Gbayi are still affected. Our demand is that the government should finally lift the ban and allow other filling stations to start supplying fuel to the border communities. This will ease pressure on the socioeconomic activities of the residents,” he appealed.

Residents Sleep At Petrol Stations, Spend ₦5,000 On Transport

A resident of Ijofin in Ipokia Local Government Area, Abdulganiyu Babatunde, said the waivers granted so far were inadequate to meet the needs of residents.

He alleged that some filling stations determine when to sell fuel, forcing residents to sleep overnight at stations to secure supply.

“They are forming a kind of monopoly, or should I call it oligopoly, whereby they make decisions by themselves. They decide when to sell and when not to sell; they can start selling petrol in the morning and by 12 p.m. they will just close, telling people they don’t want to sell anymore.

“Some people sleep at the fuel station ahead of the next day so they can buy fuel.

“We have 12 wards in our local government, and the waiver did not get to all of it. I’m from Ijofin; there’s no filling station working there, so we must travel to other places to get fuel,” he said.

According to him, transportation costs have also surged sharply, with some residents spending up to ₦5,000 to travel in search of petrol.

“It’s not that easy for residents of Idi-Oke; even the transport to Idiroko, if you see someone who has the mercy of God, you’ll still spend ₦5,000 just to go and get fuel.

“You can see how difficult it is. Car and bike owners have no option than to go there, and for commercial bike operators, the consumers are at the receiving end because they charge high. A place where bikes take ₦100 or ₦200, now we cannot pay less than ₦500,” he lamented.

Monarch, Residents Beg Tinubu To Lift Border Fuel Ban

The Eselu of Eselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to lift the ban on fuel supply to border communities, describing the policy as outdated and harmful to residents.

Naija News understands that the monarch made the appeal during a press conference held to mark his last birthday celebration, questioning why the Federal Government had yet to review the restriction despite repeated engagements with relevant authorities.

He urged the government to demonstrate responsible governance by addressing the suffering faced by people living in border areas.

“They believe that petrol is being smuggled to Benin, the Niger Republic and the rest, and that is affecting the economy.

“But that was initially, when there was subsidised fuel. Now, if the government says it has taken away subsidies and we’re buying at a high rate, why is the border still closed?” the monarch queried.

A resident, Abdulganiyu Babatunde, also questioned the continued enforcement of the restriction, arguing that the removal of petrol subsidy should naturally allow unrestricted fuel supply to all communities.

He said the ban had disrupted livelihoods and contributed to rising insecurity in the border areas.

“At times, the government thinks they’re solving a problem, not knowing that they’re creating another one, because at the end of the day, we can’t sleep with our two eyes closed.

“Initially, when they started the ban, it wasn’t that easy; even now, we’re still facing some of it.

“We hear issues of stolen goats, burglaries of shops, among others, because these people have nowhere to source their daily bread again,” he added.

The CDA Chairman in Iwoye-Ketu also lamented that the few filling stations currently operating in the area struggle with irregular supply, noting that once fuel runs out, residents sometimes wait one to two weeks before new stock arrives.

“So, it’s still affecting us. Imagine if all the filling stations were operational, it would be hard for all the filling stations in the community to be out of stock at the same time. So, the government should please lift the ban. It’s long overdue,” he appealed.

Customs Seizures Continue Despite Restrictions

Despite the ban, smuggling activities persist. The Nigeria Customs Service reportedly seized over 190,741 litres of petrol in Ogun border communities and neighbouring towns within the last year.

Naija News recalls that in May 2025, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed that Operation Whirlwind intercepted 39,425 litres of petrol worth ₦39.4 million within the Lagos-Ogun axis.

Further seizures followed in June, when 39,425 litres of Premium Motor Spirit valued at ₦39m were confiscated, and in July, when 35,535 litres worth ₦58.36m were intercepted at smuggling hotspots in Ajilete, Ilaro, Badagry, Owode, Eree and Obada Imeko.

In October, another 49,500 litres valued at ₦80,452,000 were intercepted across the Lagos and Ogun axis.

Rights Group Faults Policy

Reacting to the development, the National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Yinka Folarin, urged the Federal Government to allow residents in border communities to enjoy their socio-economic rights, including access to essential commodities.

He stressed that in many rural areas where electricity supply is unstable, petrol remains critical for powering generators and sustaining businesses.

“We live in a country where we battle with electricity supply, and the only alternative besides solar power is to make use of generators. The inability to get access to fuel is a deprivation of human rights,” Daily Post quoted Folarin as stating.

He argued that the continued restriction amounted to discrimination against Nigerians living in border communities and called for urgent intervention.

“It’s a breach on their rights because we are in a country where we are still battling with electricity supply.

“There are some parts of this place where they do not have an electric power supply, and the alternative would be fuel, apart from solar.

“Now they have the inability to access it; it’s a deprivation of rights which the government needs to look into.

“So, it’s a kind of discrimination against fellow Nigerians and the government must do everything to stop that,” Folarin stressed.

He advised the government to strengthen security surveillance across border routes to curb smuggling while allowing legitimate fuel supply to residents.

“The government should allow people to enjoy their rights, their right to also benefit from the fuel.

“They should adopt security measures at the different borders to avoid a situation of smuggling the fuel out.

“More so, since the government has even removed the fuel subsidy, one would expect free sale of this fuel to everyone, especially to every Nigerian community,” he added.

Naija News reports that the activist further noted that the prolonged restriction had forced the closure of several filling stations, led to job losses and crippled many small businesses, urging the government to take steps to revive the local economy.