Petrol Price Surge Leaves Lokoja Filling Stations Largely Empty as US-Iran Crisis Bites

By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.

Many filling stations in Lokoja, Kogi State, are witnessing a sharp decline in patronage as the pump price of petrol rises from about ₦839 to as high as ₦1,300 per litre, a development linked to the ongoing U.S.–Iran crisis in the Middle East.

Findings by our correspondent on Thursday revealed that the surge in price has forced many private vehicle owners to abandon the use of their cars and resort to commercial transportation as a cost-saving measure.

This shift has significantly reduced daily fuel purchases across the state capital.

Filling station attendants who spoke with our correspondent expressed concern over the situation, noting that the Middle East crisis has further compounded an already weak market.

According to them, the ripple effects of global tensions are being felt directly at the local level through declining sales and reduced customer turnout.

“Since we opened today, we have struggled to sell up to ₦50,000 worth of fuel. This is a sharp contrast to a few months ago when we recorded daily sales of ₦400,000 or more, especially on market days,” an attendant, who preferred anonymity, said.

Meanwhile, foreign reports indicate that tensions in the Middle East escalated on Thursday as the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah launched drones and rockets into northern Israel, targeting troops and border communities.

Israeli authorities confirmed that air raid sirens were activated, though no casualties or major damage were immediately reported.

The conflict intensified as Israel reported waves of missile attacks from Iran, with its air defence systems intercepting several projectiles.

Emergency services said at least 14 people, including an 11-year-old girl near Tel Aviv, were injured in separate incidents, while earlier strikes left four others with minor wounds.

From Washington, US President Donald Trump maintained a firm stance, declaring that the United States was close to victory and would sustain “extremely hard” strikes on Iran for up to three weeks.

He warned that failure by Tehran to agree to a negotiated settlement could lead to attacks on critical infrastructure, including power facilities,an approach that has raised concerns among legal experts over potential violations of international law.

Iran, however, rejected the US position, describing its demands as “maximalist and irrational,” while insisting that no direct negotiations were ongoing.

The country’s Revolutionary Guards also reiterated that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to perceived adversaries, a move that has heightened fears of prolonged disruption in global oil supply.The economic impact on the conflict is swift with global oil prices surging amid uncertainty.

Brent crude rose by nearly seven per cent to over $108 per barrel, while US benchmark crude also recorded significant gains.

The World Bank has warned that the conflict could worsen global inflation, threaten jobs, and deepen food insecurity, as leaders, including Anthony Albanese caution that a prolonged war without a clear end point may further destabilise the global economy.
With foreign reports.