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The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has blamed the current fuel scarcity in Abuja and other surrounding states on the inability of fuel trucks to access Lokoja roads.
The regulatory body said the roads had been flooded.
This is as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) assured that there was enough fuel stock and therefore appealed to members of the public to avoid panic buying as all efforts are being made to resolve fuel shortage in some filling stations in Abuja and its environs.
NNPCL group general manager, group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad said yesterday, it is working assiduously, in collaboration with relevant government agencies, to open up this major highway.
“NNPC Ltd wishes to inform the general public that it has sufficient stock of petroleum products and the public should not give in to panic buying.
“The current queue situation in some parts of Abuja and its environs is as a result of delays in arrival of fuel trucks. This is happening as a result of heavy flooding that has submerged parts of the highway.
passing through Lokoja, Kogi State and also an incidence of a failed road section around Badegi-Agaie highway in Niger state.
“Consequently, vehicles, especially fuel tankers, are finding alternative roads to get to their intended destinations,” he said.
He urged that “while we do that, we urge the general public to remain calm and not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products. The current situation is temporary and has nothing to do with shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as the NNPC Ltd has a thirty-day products’ sufficiency.”
Reiterating the NNPC, the NMDPRA also urged fuel marketers to desist from hoarding the products.
“In the same context, Marketers are advised to desist from hoarding the product so as not to inflict hardship on Nigerians.”
“The Authority wishes to reiterate its commitment to Nigerians to ensure seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.”
Meanwhile, long queues for petrol persisted yesterday, at filling stations along Kubwa, central business district (CBD) and airport road in Abuja and environs.