Thousands of motorists and commuters across Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, have been thrown into severe hardship following the abrupt closure of several independent filling stations across the metropolis. The widespread shutdowns come in the wake of the price intervention announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Retail).
​During monitoring rounds conducted at 8:30 AM on Thursday, October 15, 2026, major commercial corridors in the state capital, including Ahmadu Bello Way, Sultan Abubakar Road, and Emir Haruna Road, showed dozens of retail outlets completely locked to customers.
​The few stations that remained operational saw massive vehicle queues stretching onto main roadways, creating significant traffic bottlenecks.
​”My station has petrol in stock, but I was instructed directly by my management to hold off on sales until further notice,” stated a retail outlet manager on Ahmadu Bello Way, who requested anonymity due to official workplace policy.
​The widespread shutdown follows the Federal Government and NNPC’s temporary price intervention, under which NNPC Retail announced a ₦66 discount per litre, temporarily setting pump prices closer to landing costs (around ₦1,350–₦1,400 per litre).
​Independent petroleum marketers in Birnin Kebbi, who had previously been selling fuel at ₦1,430 per litre, expressed reluctance to sell at the lower rates. Station operators cited fears of heavy inventory losses on stock purchased at higher depot prices before the announcement.
​The artificial scarcity has driven black-market rates up to ₦1,500 per litre in several parts of Birnin Kebbi, significantly increasing transport fares for local commuters.
​Speaking at the Central Motor Park in Birnin Kebbi, Comrade Usman Kangiwa, a representative of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Kebbi Chapter, voiced frustration over the ongoing disruption:
​”The price reduction was intended as a relief measure for citizens, but independent marketers in Birnin Kebbi are withholding product to protect their margins. We appeal to the Kebbi State Task Force on Petroleum Products and regulatory agencies to intervene immediately so operators do not exploit struggling commuters.”
​Addressing the situation during a media briefing in Abuja, Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, assured the public that product availability remains stable and urged retail partners not to hoard fuel. He emphasized that NNPC’s temporary adjustment was meant to cushion global price volatility for Nigerian consumers.
​As of Thursday afternoon, local regulatory officials in Kebbi State have begun monitoring retail outlets across Birnin Kebbi to enforce compliance and ensure stations holding inventory resume public sales.
