Six Years On, Ogun Border Towns Struggle Under Fuel Sale Ban

Story: Written by Joseph February 16,2026
It has been six years and two months since the Muhammadu Buhari administration introduced a ban on the sale of petroleum products to filling stations within 20 kilometers of Nigeria’s land borders.
The policy, enacted in November 2019, was aimed at curbing the smuggling of subsidized fuel to neighbouring countries and cutting off supply channels for bandits and terrorists operating along border communities.
However, the ban has had lasting consequences for residents and businesses across 15 states. Locals have been forced to travel long distances to access fuel or pay inflated prices to black-market suppliers to meet daily needs.
In Ogun State, border towns including Ipokia, Imeko Afon, Yewa North (formerly Egbado North), and Yewa South (formerly Egbado South) continue to feel the economic strain. The fuel scarcity has hindered local businesses and limited mobility for residents in these border communities.
A partial reprieve came on March 18, 2020, when the federal government granted waivers to 66 filling stations in border areas, allowing them to resume fuel distribution. Despite this, many communities still struggle with limited access, higher prices, and the lingering effects of six years of restricted supply.