Emmanuel OchayiThe Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), claiming that its logistical problems had been rectified, has blamed the increasing scarcity of petrol in Abuja and surrounding states.
On the ground, however, the reality is much different, with lengthy lines and arbitrary filling station charges.
Despite the NNPC’s guarantee, there was still a shortage of petrol on Thursday in the Federal Capital Territory and other northern states, which led to the closure of numerous petrol stations. There were long lines at the few locations that sold the fuel, leaving commuters delayed at bus stops as a result of the shortage.
Independent marketers have placed the blame on the inadequate petrol supply to Abuja via the Suleja Depot in Niger State, as gasoline trucks are no longer regularly arriving at the depot and other northern depots. Due to the few transporters who had access to petrol, this resulted in an increase in transit fares in the impacted states.
According to Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abuja-Suleja Branch, “There is low supply while the demand for PMS is high. Right now, only NNPC retail stations are selling at N617/litre in Abuja and other northern states. Every other station has arbitrary prices.”
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In addition, Shuaibu questioned if the NNPC was importing enough petrol to satisfy local demand, pointing to a potential shortage as a cause of the shortage. In order to stop any price increases, he pleaded with the Federal Government to step in and guarantee a greater supply of petrol through the NNPC.
Meanwhile, the NNPC has maintained that the scarcity is due to logistics issues, which have been resolved. The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, stated, “The NNPC Ltd wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is a result of logistics issues, and that they have been resolved.”
Soneye reassured Nigerians that there is enough supply of goods in the nation and asked them not to panic buy. The reality, however, appears to be different, as many drivers have already started panic buying as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the supply of petrol.
It is unclear how the Federal Government and the NNPC will handle the situation going forward and guarantee a steady supply of petrol to satisfy Nigerians’ needs.
