The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has attributed the current fuel queues in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some parts of the country to disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.
A statement on Monday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the National Oil Company, Olufemi Soneye disclosed this.
He explained that the adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
The NNPC Ltd also states that due to flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
“Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
“Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja”, Soneye said.
He, however, disclosed that the NNPC Ltd is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.
Adding that “already, loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy will restored”, he said
The company called on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Maigandi told TheFact Daily earlier that the stakeholders are in a closed-door meeting to proffer solutions to the problem.
