Queues have begun to disappear from filling stations across Nigeria’s major cities after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd intervened in the logistic issues that had affected the supply of premium motor spirit.
Findings by NewsNGR across filling stations in Abuja and its environs showed that the fuel queues are disappearing and normalcy has returned.
Checks further revealed that the fuel queues have disappeared from most filling stations across major locations in the Federal Capital Territory such as Kubwa, Central Area, Wuse, Maitama, Bwari and Gwarimpa.
In some of the filling stations visited by NewsNGR, it was observed that petrol was sold at the normal price of between N625 and N685 per liter.
Many motorists who spoke to NewsNGR expressed relief and satisfaction with the speed at which the fuel scarcity issue was resolved.
An engineer who spoke to NewsNGR shortly after buying petrol said, “For the past two days I have been searching for where to buy petrol because of the queues. Most filling stations didn’t have fuel since last Friday. On Sunday, I spent four hours in the queue and the filling station ran out of stock before it got to my turn.
“But this morning, I discovered that many of them have started selling and it is a huge relief because they still maintained the oil price of N680 per litre. I came here at about 11am and within 25 minutes, I bought petrol.”
Speaking on the development, one of the managers in a filling station in Dutse who gave his name as Idris Adamu told NewsNGR that most filling stations in Abuja have been supplied with premium motor spirit, adding that the fuel queues are now disappearing.
“We have adequate supply of petroleum products and we are selling. Many people that came are surprised that we didn’t increase the price,” he added.
The development is coming barely 48 hours after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) asked filling stations serving Premium Motor to operate for longer hours to cushion the impact of the long fuel queues on Nigerians.
The NNPC Ltd, Executive Vice President, Downstream, Dapo Segun, had said this during a joint inspection of fuel stations with the Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Ogbugo Ukoha.
He had explained that adverse weather conditions have significantly impacted the ship-to-shore discharge of PMS, a volatile liquid.
NewsNGR had reported that fuel queues in filling stations across the country was as a result of logistic challenges in the movement of petroleum products.
Information available to NewsNGR had shown that there had been a disruption of ship-to-ship tansfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.
Speaking ok the development during a tour of filling stations, Segun said, “During thunderstorms, it cannot be discharged due to safety reasons, which also affects the loading of trucks at the depot.
“This is why you see this tightness. Despite challenges like deteriorating motorways due to rains and flooding, we will ensure continuous loading throughout the weekend and mobilize more trucks.
“Fuel stations will run for longer hours, and marketers will collaborate and share stocks.So, rather than have a station with more trucks, they can release those trucks to other stations for circulation.”
The Campaign Against Impunity had tasked Nigerians to report all filling stations and tanker owners either hoarding Premium Motor Spirit or extorting consumers.
The Coordinator of Campaign Against Impunity, Sina Loremikan had made the call amid the deliberate hoarding of petroleum products particularly PMS by some fuel station owners as well as distributors.
He had said this at the sideline of the two-day meeting held in Lagos by over eight Civil Society Organisations to discuss the issues around the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
Loremikan expressed concern that some players in the industry deliberately hoard products waiting for the prices to rise before selling to consumers.
Loremikan said, “There is a need for the oil and gas sector to open its door for citizens engagement. Many of us have studied the police and security agencies. They say if you see something, say something.
“If you know any filling station extorting or hoarding the products, please reach out to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. It is a duty that calls for activeness on the part of everybody.
“Filling stations are scattered all over the country. Some in local governments but we as interested members of the public may not be in that location. But you may have someone in that location. Let them speak out.”