The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has shed light on the recent scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel, and the long queues observed at filling stations in Lagos. According to NNPCL, the situation is primarily due to distribution challenges.
Reports emerged on Monday indicating long queues at various filling stations across Lagos, sparking concerns among residents about a potential fuel shortage. The congestion notably affected stations along the Ikorodu Road and Total Filling Station on the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, causing traffic gridlocks in the Ikeja area.
Numerous filling stations in Ikeja, including those along Obafemi Awolowo Road, remained closed, while outlets along Ogunnusi Road toward Berger did not sell petrol to customers. Additionally, NNPCL mega filling stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were reported not to be dispensing fuel as of Monday evening.
Responding to the situation, Femi Soneye, the spokesperson for NNPCL, dismissed concerns of a looming fuel scarcity. Soneye clarified that the company did not face supply challenges and assured the public that its fuel products remained readily available.
Soneye, who added that the distribution issue in some areas had been resolved, was quoted as saying, “We are pleased to confirm that there are no supply issues, and our products remain readily available.
“The recent tightness experienced in certain areas was due to a brief distribution issue in Lagos, which has since been resolved.”
Also, the National Vice Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said he was aware of the queues in some filling stations in
Lagos, but said the queues might be due to panic-buying on the part of customers.
Fashola said, “I am not in Lagos as we speak. But I heard about it too that there are queues in Lagos. It may just be panic buying. I am not sure there is fuel scarcity. People are just panicking. However, I will find out what the problem is.”
However, the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, said he was not aware of the situation as he was not in Lagos at the time of filing this report.
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