All of the refineries shut down under General Sani Abacha’s rule, making Nigeria a steady importer of petroleum products. Surprisingly, the nation still depends significantly on petroleum imports 26 years after his passing.
The importation of “foul fuel,” a subpar product with a strong, disagreeable stench that seriously damaged vehicle engines in the mid-1990s, is one incident from Abacha’s reign that will never be forgotten. The “foul fuel” imported during Abacha’s rule caused engine failure in more than 40% of petroleum-powered vehicles in Nigeria.
