The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has attributed the return of scarcity of fuel and the resultant long queues in many filling stations to adverse weather conditions.
A statement today, July 8 by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPC Ltd. Olufemi Soneye said that the fuel queues seen in the FCT and some parts of the country, “were as a result of 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.
“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 said 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.
The statement emphasized that adherence to regulations is mandatory because any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
It said that the development has been compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.
The NNPC Ltd assured however that it is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.
According to the statement, loading has already commenced in areas where the challenges have subsided, “and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy would be restored.”
The NNPC called on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products.
