In a bid to allay concerns over the ongoing fuel scarcity and long queues at petrol stations, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Ltd, has issued a statement assuring citizens that the situation will be resolved by Wednesday, May 1st.
Speaking to reporters in Lagos on Tuesday, the Chief Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, revealed that the company currently holds an excess of 1.5 billion litres of fuel, a supply that can sustain the nation for at least 30 days.
Soneye attributed the recent disruptions in distribution to logistical challenges, which have since been addressed. However, he cautioned that returning to normal operations might require additional time due to the nature of such disruptions.
He also raised concerns about certain entities taking advantage of the situation to inflate prices, noting that while scarcity has been minimal lately, profiteering remains a concern.
Assurances from NNPC have instilled optimism among industry stakeholders. Hammed Fashola, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), expressed confidence that queues in Lagos and Ogun states would ease off this week, citing the reassurances from NNPC.
However, Fashola acknowledged that the situation might persist longer in Abuja due to the logistical challenges posed by the distance from Lagos and poor road conditions.
He explained that disruptions in the supply chain, particularly in the movement of ships from main vessels to depot tanks, contribute to delays. Nevertheless, Fashola remains hopeful that the situation will improve significantly by midweek.
Despite the assurances, citizens remain wary of the persisting challenges and eagerly anticipate the promised resolution to the fuel scarcity issue.
