Ongoing fuel scarcity, caused by flooding – NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has linked the present fuel lines in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other regions of the nation to the disruption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or gasoline, ship-to-ship (STS) transfer.

In response to the development on Monday, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., stated that the recent thunderstorms had caused a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer between mother boats and daughter vessels.

Soneye added that the bad weather also interfered with truck load-outs, product transportation to filling stations, and berthing at jetties, disrupting station supply logistics.

“The NNPC Ltd. 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.

“NNPC Ltd. is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.

“Already, loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and we are hoping that the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy will be restored,” Soneye said.

Soneye, while urging motorists to avoid panic buying, warned fuel stations not to hoard petroleum products.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, in view of the fresh fuel scarcity, many stations were not dispensing the product, thereby causing hardship to motorists while commuters are stranded.

Along Kubwa Road, many fuel stations were not dispensing the product, except Amassco and NIPCO at Kubwa second gate.

Many fuel stations along Nyanya-Karshi road did not have fuel except NIPCO and AA Rano fuel stations with long queues. (NAN)