Story highlights Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa, but the country has been hit hard by fuel shortages

Nigerians use fuel to power generators for homes and businesses, as well as to run cars and trucks

The country does not have the capacity to refine enough of its own oil into fuel to meet the needs of its population

Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer, but fuel shortages have paralyzed the country that just a year ago was declared Africa's largest economy.

At one gas station in Lagos, crowds push at the gates waving empty jerry cans. Cars queue for a kilometre down the road creating gridlock.

Similar scenes are being repeated at almost every petrol station across Nigeria.

"I've been here since 4 a.m. It's not good," says local resident Abdulsalam Mohammed as he finally drives his car to the petrol pump. "Now it's almost 3 p.m. Nobody can work today."

"We are an oil producing country, very rich, a giant in Africa," says Seun Olewale, another driver who is carrying empty fuel cans. "But the experience we are getting now is so hard."

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