Petrol scarcity and long queues returns to Abuja, NNPC gives reasons

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has ascribed the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja to low loadouts and increased purchases that characterise post-holiday periods.

most filling stations in Abuja and neighbouring states of Nasarawa and Niger that dispensed Premium Motor Spirit, on Sunday were greeted with long queues..

RESPONDING the NNPC spokesman, Garba Deen Muhammad, said the company had sufficient fuel supplies to satisfy the demands of Abuja residents for over six weeks.

He assured all residents of the FCT and Nigerians that NNPC had ample local supplies and national stock in excess of 2.5 billion liters, with the sufficiency of more than 43 days.

However, the alleged indebtedness of the Federal Government has been alluded to as crippling the marketers’ effective procurement and distribution capacity; it was learned last night.

According to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), the government was owing more than N100 billion in overdue bridging payments.

They alleged that the N100 billion debt due on procured petrol by the defunct Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), now Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has not been paid despite persistent demand.