Togo has recently been experiencing heavy disruptions in fuel supply. The storage and distribution company, STE (Société Togolaise d’Entreposage), was reportedly battling to get new supplies. A situation many consumers have linked to the petrol price hike in Nigeria. While Togolese authorities deny rumours of any fuel shortage, the illegal fuel trade is flourishing.

by Noël Tadégnon, Lomé

“Most conventional filling stations ran out of petrol for two to three days, before things returned to normal”, says Yves Moglo, a moto-taxi driver.

Out of stock
“It was done intentionally in order to increase the price of petrol, as Togo’s supplier, Nigeria, has increased its prices twofold”, says Koffi Ségla, a shopkeeper. But according to a petrol station manager who wished to remain anonymous: “We are out of stock and are waiting for fresh supplies”. He added that the supply schedule was disrupted by festive celebrations.

According to sources at the STE the situation will return to normal. The Togolese Council of Ministers denied rumours of petrol shortage and price increase at the pump. On the contrary, the minister assured that supplies were secured for over three months.

Prices of smuggled fuel explode
Meanwhile, some motorists have turned to dealers of smuggled fuel on the roadsides. “I don’t like this type of fuel but the circumstances force me to put it in my engine”, explains Magloire, a civil servant.

They were surprised by the sudden increase in the price of even smuggled fuel, from 500 CFA francs to 800 or 850 CFA francs in some areas of the Togolese capital, Lomé. This has forced some motorists to park their vehicles. “My tank is empty and I cannot afford petrol at this price, so I am forced to park my motorcycle”, a moto-taxi driver admitted.

On fishing boats
While some smugglers get their supplies from neighbouring Benin, where the prices have since increased, others collect the ‘merchandise’ straight from Nigeria. The fuel is smuggled into Togo on fishing boats. The smugglers cross the Gulf of Guinea by night and the fuel is stored on a neutral ground between the
Togolese and Beninese borders.

Efforts by The Togolese Ministry of Security and Civil Protection to fight fuel smuggling have so been fruitless. Illlegal fuel dealers are still present in all areas of Lomé and neighbouring cities.