The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has attributed the recent aggravation of fuel queues in Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger states to logistical challenges. However, the state-owned oil firm promptly addressed the issue, leading to a resolution.
On Thursday, the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, persisted in the Federal Capital Territory and several northern states. Consequently, numerous filling stations were compelled to cease operations, while those that remained open faced substantial queues.
Independent marketers raised the price of petrol to an average of N700/litre, while NNPC retail outlets maintained the approved price of N617/litre.
According to industry insiders, the supply of PMS to Abuja through the Suleja Depot in Niger State has been inadequate. They noted a decline in fuel truck deliveries to Suleja Depot and other northern depots compared to previous levels.
Reports indicated that many filling stations in Abuja and five other states experienced closures on Wednesday, resulting in lengthy queues at the limited operational outlets. As a consequence, thousands of commuters in the affected regions, including the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, and Anambra states, were left stranded at bus stops due to a scarcity of fuel required by transporters.
Transport fares escalated in the affected states as a result of the limited availability of petrol, with the few transporters in possession of fuel raising their rates.
On Thursday, Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abuja-Suleja Branch, informed our correspondent that the supply of PMS to the capital city and its environs remained low. He highlighted the poor reception at the Suleja Depot, which serves Abuja, and cited reduced supplies from the depots in Warri and Lagos, where products are typically sourced.
Responding to inquiries regarding the adequacy of NNPC’s PMS imports to meet local demand, Shuaibu hinted that insufficient supply could be a contributing factor to the scarcity and ensuing queues. He commended NNPC retail stations for maintaining a uniform price of N617/litre in the northern region but noted that other marketers had varying prices, with some selling PMS at N700/litre or higher.
Shuaibu urged the Federal Government to intervene by ensuring increased petrol supply through NNPC, emphasizing the growing prevalence of panic buying among motorists.
In response, Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, acknowledged the scarcity and attributed it to logistical challenges while refraining from providing specific details. Soneye assured the public that the issue had been resolved and urged motorists not to engage in panic buying, as NNPC, being the sole importer of petrol, possessed an ample supply of products.
“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,” stated Soneye.
