Addressing concerns over the persistent long queues at petrol stations nationwide, the House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Resources (Midstream and Downstream) pledged swift resolution, promising the public relief within one to two days.
In a press briefing at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Chairmen Ikenga Ugochinyere and Henry Odianosen Okojie of the respective committees reassured citizens that the logistical challenges contributing to the fuel scarcity had been effectively addressed.
Logistical hurdles, including difficulties in product transportation from mother vessels to onshore locations, issues with marine shuttle vessel movements, and disruptions in the Escravos channels, were highlighted as key factors causing the supply chain bottlenecks.
Reading from a joint statement, Ugochinyere emphasised that regulators had provided assurances regarding the clearance of bottlenecks in the distribution value chain. He disclosed that despite the availability of petroleum products, distribution had encountered hiccups.
The lawmakers disclosed that the country’s storage facilities held approximately 1.5 billion litres of petrol, ensuring a supply that could sustain itself for 30 days.
They further noted collaborative efforts with stakeholders in the petroleum distribution value chain, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
In their appeal to Nigerians, the committee chairmen urged against panic, assuring that the situation was temporary and would soon be resolved.
They projected that significant progress would be made during the Workers’ Day holiday, with expectations that the issue would be entirely mitigated within two to three days.
Expressing disdain for middlemen exploiting the situation for undue profit, the lawmakers called upon security forces to collaborate with stakeholders to detect and curb acts of economic sabotage, including hoarding, price inflation, product diversion, and smuggling.
They implored all traders and service providers not to exploit the temporary challenge, reiterating the commitment to swiftly address the issue and alleviate the hardships experienced by citizens in recent days.
