PBA ReporterThe Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd., has attributed the return of fuel queues in Abuja on low load-outs at depots, blaming it on residents who recently returned from the public holidays.
Reacting to the long queues in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it said in a statement: “The NNPC Ltd notes the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja. This is very likely due to low load-outs at depots which usually happen during long public holidays, in this case, the Sallah celebrations.”
According to Garba Deen Muhammad, NNPC spokesman in the statement: “Another contributing factor to the sudden appearances of queues is the increased fuel purchases, which is also usual with returning residents of the FCT from the public holiday.”
The NNPC, however, said efforts are ongoing to address the situation.
“NNPC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in conjunction with our marketing partners, have taken necessary measures to ramp up loadouts from all depots.”
“We assure all residents of the FCT, and indeed all Nigerians, that we have ample local supplies and national stock in excess of 2.5 billion liters, with sufficiency of more than 43 days.
NNPC then added: “The NNPC Ltd hereby advises motorists not to engage in panic buying as supplies are adequate as will become increasingly evident in the coming days.”
Fuel queues resurfaced in the nation’s capital on Friday, leaving many motorists scrambling to get petroleum products, as many outlets were not selling even as black market hawkers selling in jerry-cans made a killing. Please read the Prime Business Africa report here:
Recall that Nigeria only recently recovered from prolonged scarcity of premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol, occasioned by high levels of methanol found in imported cargoes.
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