Victor Ezeja
The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has said the reoccurrence of queues at filling stations in some parts of the country was due to disruption in the supply of petrol to the outlets.
MEMAN Executive Secretary, Mr Clement Isong, said the adverse weather and thunderstorms in recent days delayed ship-to-ship (STS) trans-loading, berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe development, he said, disrupted supply logistics.
He mentioned that there had also been a warning from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) not to load petrol during thunderstorms and lightening.
Isong highlighted the flammability of petroleum products and the need for tightly regulated and supervised handling throughout storage, dispensing, transit, and consumption.
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Isong said: “Many trucks could not load product for over 48 hours during the storm.”
He urged the public not to engage in panic buying, warning that such would not only create artificial scarcity but also pose a safety threat to safety.
“We wish to reiterate that there is no cause for alarm. We strongly urge Nigerians to avoid panic buying or stockpiling of petrol,” Isong said.
“This behaviour not only creates artificial scarcity but also poses a significant safety hazard.”
READ ALSO: NNPC Faces Fuel Scarcity As Payment Backlog Of $6bn Mounts
The MEMAN executive secretary assured that now the weather is clear, marketers would start loading and resume distribution to petrol outlets across the country.
“Now that the weather is clear, marketers have begun loading, and all trucks have commenced distribution of fuel to all stations across the country.
“We want to assure Nigerians that there is no scarcity, and they should not stock petrol at home,” he said.
Prime Business Africa reports that queues resurfaced in filling stations across Abuja and Lagos on Thursday, raising concerns about impending scarcity of petroleum products.
Our correspondent observed long queues which extended to road networks, causing gridlock in some parts of Lagos.
This is as some consumers besieged petrol stations with plastic containers to buy the product.
A video shared by an X user, @Eniboy, on Sunday, showed long queue of cars more than 2 kilometres, according to the user, waiting buy petrol at an MRS filling station in Gudu, Abuja.
A resident of Abuja, Mrs Chinenye Ayogu, who spoke with Prime Business Africa correspondent said: “I bought on Thursday at N690 per litre and there was a queue.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
