In response to the worsening petrol scarcity affecting states like Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kaduna, the federal government has issued a stern warning to oil marketers. On Saturday, officials announced they would revoke the operating licenses of marketers caught hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel.
During an inspection tour in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), emphasized the seriousness of the situation. A video shared by the regulator shows Ukoha warning filling station managers to address the issue urgently, suggesting they seek security reinforcements if needed.
Ukoha urged petrol stations to halt sales to black marketers who distribute fuel in jerrycans, highlighting the significant safety risks associated with these practices. “Retail petrol stations must stop encouraging the sale of products to black marketers,” he stressed.
The NMDPRA has launched a crackdown on illegal sales, with a recent post on the agency’s X handle declaring, “NMDPRA embarks on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans. Filling stations are advised to desist from servicing illegal peddlers; failure to do so will result in the suspension of retail licenses.”
The petrol shortage, particularly severe in northern states, has been attributed to operational issues and adverse weather conditions impacting supply chains. On July 27, Olufemi Soneye, spokesperson for NNPC Ltd, explained that the disruption was due to problems with vessel discharge operations.
“The NNPC Ltd acknowledges that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution in parts of Lagos and the FCT is due to a hitch in the discharge operations of several vessels,” Soneye said.
Despite ongoing efforts to resolve logistical challenges and restore normal supply, the petrol scarcity continues. Flooding has also hampered the movement of PMS from coastal corridors to Abuja, further exacerbating the situation.
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