There are indications that the current fuel scarcity in some parts of the country including Katsina, Nasarawa, Abuja, Lagos, Oyo and Osun state may last another two weeks.
This followed revelation by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN), that the petrol scarcity will take at least two weeks to resolve.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL) however insisted that it has adequate stock of the product.
IPMAN Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukadike disclosed on Sunday “Once there is a breach in the international supply chains, it will have an impact on domestic supply because we depend on imports. I also have it on good authority that most of the refineries in Europe are undergoing turnaround maintenance, so sourcing Petroleum products has become difficult.
“NNPC Group CEO has assured us that there will be improvements in the supply chain because their vessels are arriving. Once that is done, normalcy will return. We expect that by next week or so, NNPC should be able to restore supply and with another week, normalcy should return.”
The Chief Corporate Communication Officer, NNPC Ltd., Olufemi Soneye however declared” The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is a result of logistics issues and they have been resolved.
“It also wishes to reiterate that prices of Petroleum products are not changing. It urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there are sufficient products in the country.”
Meanwhile, the scarcity has led to increase in the fuel price especially at black market with many selling it between N900 and N1000 per litre.