By SpringNewsNG Media Limited | June 3, 2025

A major fuel scarcity crisis is threatening Abuja and several northern states following the collapse of a key bridge in Mokwa, Niger State, due to devastating floods that claimed over 150 lives.

The Mokwa Bridge, which connects Northern Nigeria to the Southwest, was destroyed last Wednesday after days of heavy rainfall and flooding. The disaster has halted the movement of petroleum tankers from southern depots, raising fears of a fuel supply disruption just days before the Eid al-Adha (Sallah) public holidays, scheduled for June 6 and June 9, 2025.

While the official death toll, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), stands at 153, local sources say the number could be significantly higher.

Officials from major fuel distribution companies—including MRS and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)—have confirmed that petrol trucks heading to Abuja and other northern cities have been forced to turn back due to the collapsed bridge.

An MRS official, who spoke anonymously, said:

“Most of our petrol trucks are stranded due to the Mokwa bridge collapse. I foresee fuel scarcity in Abuja and parts of Northern Nigeria during the Sallah holidays if the government doesn’t act fast.”

Despite the disruption, fuel prices in Abuja are expected to remain stable at N895 per litre, at least temporarily.

A source at NNPCL echoed similar concerns, warning that unless alternative supply routes such as Port Harcourt and Warri are quickly mobilized, Abuja and neighboring regions could face petrol shortages during the festive season.

PETROAN, IPMAN React Differently

In contrast, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) downplayed the fears.

PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry assured Nigerians that his members are actively working to reroute supplies through Port Harcourt, Rivers, and Delta State depots.

“There should be no panic. Our members will collaborate with suppliers like 11 PLC and Matrix to ensure an adequate fuel supply, even during the Eid al-Adha holidays,” Gillis-Harry said.

However, IPMAN National Secretary, James Tor, expressed concern over the longer transportation time and urged the federal government to urgently fix the Mokwa Bridge or activate alternative routes to prevent shortages.

“Without immediate action, fuel supply disruptions in Abuja and the North are inevitable, especially during the upcoming public holidays,” Tor warned.

Eid al-Adha, Fuel Price Drop, and Government Response

The looming fuel crisis coincides with recent reductions in petrol prices, as NNPCL and Dangote Refinery adjusted pump prices to between N875 and N910 per litre in Lagos and Abuja.

With Dangote Refinery, Nigeria’s sole domestic petroleum producer, located in Lagos, the collapsed Mokwa Bridge was the most direct route for delivering fuel to Northern Nigeria.

The federal government has yet to issue an official timeline for repairing the collapsed bridge, as calls intensify for an urgent solution.