The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has assured motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja that there is enough Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), often known as gasoline, to go around.
This is despite the fact that lines are growing at practically every available petrol filling station in the nation’s capital, with several outlets closing due to a scarcity of products.
Garba Deen Muhammad, Group General Manager, NNPC Ltd’s Group Public Affiars Division, issued a statement urging motorists not to “engage in panic buying” because supplies are enough.
“The NNPC Ltd notes the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja. This is very likely due to low loadouts at depots which usually happen during long public holidays, in this case, the Sallah celebrations.
“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 holidays.
“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.
“The NNPC Ltd hereby advises motorist not to engage in panic buying as supplies are adequate as will become increasingly evident in the coming days” the statement reads in parts.
Our correspondent reports that from Nyanya axis to Apo resettlement, down the Kubwa, Dei Dei expressway there are long queues with motorists lamenting the return of fuel scarcity in the capital city.
Mike Ozoemena, a taxi driver, told our Correspondent that the situation has disrupted his day’s schedule as he did not anticipate scarcity at this time.
“Imagine, I am supposed to go Keffi to convey goods down to Mararaba market for my customer. But here I am. I have been here since the last one hour. The problem is that it was so sudden, I didn’t anticipate it at all” he said.
Also, Mrs. Doowuese Gbande, a trader at Wuse market, said the development is becoming too often urging government to ensure a lasting solution is found without delay.
“It is not up to three months since we suffered severe scarcity, and this is how it starts, can you see that black marketers are already selling at almost every junction. Government should not allow this to be happening all too often in Abuja, the nation’s capital. It is becoming a reccuring decimal” she lamented.
