By Adewale Sanyaolu
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has attributed the cause of the current fuel scarcity being experienced at filling stations to ongoing rehabilitation works in some parts of Lagos state.
NNPC’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr. Adeyemi Adetunju, while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said ‘’The recent queues in Lagos are largely due to ongoing road infrastructure projects around Apapa and access road challenges in some parts of the state’s depots.
The gridlock is easing out and NNPC has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots and massive load outs from depots to various states are closely being monitored.
Abuja is impacted by the challenges recorded in Lagos. NNPC retail and key marketers have intensified dedicated loading into Abuja to restore normalcy as soon as possible.”
Adetunju, however, noted that the gridlock is easing as the NNPC has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots, with massive load outs from depots to various states being closely monitored.
The NNPC top official assured Nigerians that efforts are ongoing to ensure that normalcy returns as soon as possible.
“We want to reassure all Nigerians that NNPC has sufficient products, and we significantly increased product loading, including 24-hour operations in selected depots and extended hours at strategic stations to ensure products sufficiency nationwide.’’
“We are also working with the NMDPRA, MOMAN, DAPPMAN, IPMAN, NARTO, PTD, and other industry stakeholders to ensure normalcy is returned.”
Adetunju added that the NNPC has a “national petrol stock of over 2 billion litres. This is equivalent to over 30 days of sufficiency.
But, in a swift reaction, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said that the NNPC and the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) should be blamed for their failure to address issues around profiteering by private depot owners.
National President of IPMAN, Mr. Debo Ahmed, equally said the inability of NNPC to import products commensurate with the needs of the country over foreign exchange crisis was also another reason.
He explained that private depot owners were profiteering and have abandoned the approved ex-depot price of N148.17 and selling at prices between N207 per litre and N217 per litre respectively, adding that the importer of last resort-NNPC and the regulator, NMDPRA have failed to address the concerns of marketers.