Abuja fuel scarcity: NNPC blames crisis on FCT residents return from Sallah celebration
Oredola Adeola
The scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol has returned to most fuel stations in Abuja resulting in long queues of motorists across major parts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT at the weekend.
NNPC has blamed this on low loadouts at depots which usually happen during long public holidays, in this case, the Sallah celebrations.
Garba Deen Muhammad, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Department, NNPC Ltd, made this known in a statement obtained by EnergyDay on Monday.
During the weekend most of the filling stations in Abuja were shut down.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reporter who monitored the petrol supply situation in Wuse, Gwarimpa, Wuye and Kubwa areas of Abuja reports that long queues had resurfaced with most fueling station not selling to motorists.
A private car owner, Mr. Alex Udoh, told NAN that the queue resurfaced on Saturday and all his efforts to buy fuel failed.
Udoh urged the government to find a lasting solution to the lingering fuel scarcity because of its adverse effect on the national economy.
He also called on all relevant authorities to maintain peace and order in filling stations and curb black marketing spots.
A taxi driver, Malam Yakubu Umar, said he had been at the petrol station for over five hours waiting to buy the product.
“I bought black market yesterday and I did not make any profit,” he lamented.
None of the filling station operators responded to NAN inquiries on the sudden scarcity of the product.
Meanwhile NNPC in the statement released on Monday claimed the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja is very likely due to be low loadouts at depots which usually happen during long public holidays, in this case, the Sallah celebrations.
The Corporation said, “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.
Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Department, NNPC Ltd, said, “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 Corporation advised motorists not to engage in panic buying as supplies are adequate as will become increasingly evident in the coming days.
