The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Thursday attributed logistics issues as reasons for the cause of scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol in parts of the country even as 10 litres of petrol is being sold at 15,000.00 in black market in Abuja.
NNPCL in a statement signed by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, however assured that issues have been resolved.
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It reads in parts;
“Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved.
“It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.
It urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country.”
Due to the development, the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja witnessed long queues extending some kilometers from any filling station that have petrol.
The development left many commuters stranded with many trekking long distances to get to their destinations.
Findings shown most filling stations did not open for business since on Wednesday.
For instance, most filling stations along Maraba, Nyanya, Keffi-Abuja Expressway, Gwaripa, Kubwa, Katampe, Garki, Lokogoma, and Wuse, as well as Airport Road, closed shop on Thursday.
A trip from Maraba to Area 1, Berger Wuse for mass transist buses that used to cost N400 was increased to N700 just as a trip from Maraba to Gwaripa that used to cost N700 was increased to N1200.
“A litre is 1500 in black market and I cannot buy that and still carry passengers at the same old rate, so we have to increase it to N700 to Area 1,” a commercial bus driver said lamenting that if the situation persists, he will be forced to stay at home on Friday.
Already, the situation has reduced the number of vehicles on the roads, as commuters were seen scampering for the few available ones with exorbitant fares.
They appealed to the Federal Government and NNPCL to resolve the issue, saying that Nigerians are already battling with the current economic situation and should not be made to suffer additional pains.