Petrol scarcity due to discharge operations hitch, we’re working to resolve situation – NNPCL
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has said the current scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), is as a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels.
On Friday, there were reports of petrol scarcity in some parts of Lagos and Abuja.
NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, in a statement on Saturday, said the corporation is working with stakeholders to fix the challenge with petrol supply and distribution.
“The NNPC Ltd. wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT is as a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessel”, Soneye said.
“The Company further states that it is working round the clock with all stakeholders to resolve the situation and restore normalcy in the operations.”
The petrol scarcity occurred after a dispute between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over the supply of crude oil and the importation of petrol.
On July 18, Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, were producing inferior products compared to the ones imported into the country.
Ahmed also said Dangote requested all importation of petroleum products — especially automotive gas oil (AGO) or jet kero — be suspended or stopped, and all oil marketers be directed to his refinery.
He said the demand is not good for Nigeria in terms of energy security and also not good for markets because of monopoly.
