By Chisaa Okoye (Business reporter)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has blamed the fuel queues in Lagos, Abuja and other states on road construction projects.
Adeyemi Adetunji, NNPC’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said: “The recent queues in Lagos are largely due to ongoing road infrastructure projects around Apapa and access road challenges in some parts of Lagos depots.
“The gridlock is easing out and NNPC has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots and massive load outs from depots to various states are closely being monitored.
“Abuja is impacted by the challenges recorded in Lagos. NNPC Retail and key marketers have intensified dedicated loading into Abuja to restore normalcy as soon as possible.”
Adetunji said NNPC has a “national PMS stock of over 2 billion litres, over 30 days of sufficiency”.
He, however assured Nigerians that efforts are ongoing to ensure that normalcy returns as soon as possible.
“We want to reassure all Nigerians that NNPC has sufficient products, and we significantly increased product loading including 24-hour operations in selected depots and extended hours at strategic stations to ensure products sufficiency nationwide.
“We are also working with the NMDPRA, MOMAN, DAPPMAN, IPMAN, NARTO, PTD, and other industry stakeholders to ensure normalcy is returned.”
The recurrent fuel scarcity in Nigeria has crippled businesses and left commuters stranded. This has also resulted in 200 percent hike in road transport fare.
In Imo state, fuel is sold at between N260 and N280 per litre, while independent marketers in Lagos sell at N250 per litre depending on place of purchase. This is aside the product underdispensing by petrol stations and the N200 petrol stations attendants collect from every consumer that buys in 20 litre and 25 litre jerrycans.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly said payment of subsidy for fuel is unsustainable and has planned its removal for next year.