Fuel scarcity: Kogi flood disaster cuts petroleum products supply to Abuja

Oredola Adeola

Many articulated trucks including those taking petroleum products to the Northern part of the country have been trapped in the heavy traffic build-up due to the flooded Kotonkarfei town which affected vehicular movement on the Lokoja-Koton-Karfe road, Abuja-Lokoja Expressway, in Kogi State, further worsening fuel queue in Abuja and environs.

EnergyDay gathered that the flood was caused by persistent rainfall which was responsible for the release of water from Ladgo dam in Cameroon causing the river Niger and Benue to overflow, that submerged properties worth millions of Naira, and disrupting vehicular movement.

The flood disaster has disrupted the supply of petrol and other commodities to the northern part of the country, resulting in long queues across major filling stations in Abuja and the environs.

Some residents of Abuja informed EnergyDay that the supply disruption caused by the flooded Kogi highway caused the scarcity of the product leading to the shutdown of many filling stations while those with products are selling above N200 per litre.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in a statement blamed the fuel scarcity in Abuja on flooding in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The Authority in a statement obtained by EnergyDay disclosed that the floods in Kogi grounded all vehicular movements, affecting the distribution of products.

NMDPRA said, “This, unfortunately, has affected the distribution of petroleum products to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and environs.

As part of measures to mitigate the situation, the agency said trucking via alternative routes is currently ongoing.

“Consequently, the general public is advised to avoid panic buying at fuel stations as the NMDPRA is working assiduously with relevant stakeholders and government agencies to ensure product availability across the country.

“In the same context, marketers are advised to desist from hoarding the product so as not to inflict hardship on Nigerians,” it said.

NMDPRA, however, charged residents of Abuja to avoid panic buying at the fuel stations, noting that it is working assiduously with relevant stakeholders and agencies to ensure product availability across the country.

GarbaDeen Muhammad, spokesperson of NNPC, in a statement noted that NNPCL is not affected by the supply disruption adding that its has enough stock of petroleum products.

He said, “There is no fuel scarcity. Some trucks got stuck because of the conditions on the road.

“We have more than enough supply, just that the truck could not cross and we are doing everything possible to clear it, you don’t need to panic because this is not scarcity,” Mr Muhammad said.

Abubakar Maigandi, Vice-president of Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) in a statement said that the supply disruption due to the flood has forced private depot owners to jack up the price from N148 per litre to between N170 and 175 per litre.

“The increase in depot price of petrol by private depot owners was noticed last week. We didn’t get at NNPC depots, and the private ones said the product is scarce,” he said.