The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri; and his counterpart for the gas sector, Ekperikpe Ekpo, have been summoned by the House of Representatives to explain the causes of lingering fuel scarcity being witnessed in parts of the country.

This was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance by a member of the House, Umar Ajilo, who raised concerns that the fuel scarcity has paralyzed activities across the country.

The green chamber expects the ministers and the NNPCL GCEO to explain the real causes for the current petrol scarcity and the measures being put in place to resolve the issue. No date has been fixed for the engagement.

Fresh queues resurfaced in parts of Nigeria last week, resulting in long queues and hike in transportation fare.

The NNPC Ltd, in a statement signed by Olufemi Soneye, its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, blamed logistics issues for the resurgence of fuel queues. He claimed the company has sufficiency of products in the country.

The statement partly read: “Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved.

“It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.

“It urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country.”

However, despite Soneye’s claim that the issues had been resolved, the fuel scarcity has worsened, resulting in hike in transportation as motorists claim they buy petrol at between N750 and N800 per litre.