queue to buy fuel

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has attributed the queues in some filling stations in Lagos to panic buying.

Ohi Alegbe, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Department NNPC said Abuja on Tuesday that there was no need for panic because the corporation has enough stock to last for more than 30 days.

Alegbe in a statement issued today said what triggered the panic was the gridlock caused by the ongoing road construction in Apapa, which resulted into reduced truck- out of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from Oil Marketing Companies’ Depots in Apapa Area of Lagos.

Ohi Alegbe

The NNPC and its downstream subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) had over 32 days stock of petroleum products available for supply across the nation during the yuletide, Alegbe said.

He added that additional PMS laden vessels had also arrived the Lagos Port.

The corporation noted that the market was robust with premium motor spirit also known as petrol, and enjoined motorists in Lagos and its environs not to engage in panic buying.

Alegbe urged marketers affected by the Apapa road construction to load their petroleum products from its inland depot in Mosimi so as to support the “zero tolerance to fuel queues” policy across the country.

He appealed to marketers to immediately commence loading from the PPMC Mosimi depot to cover for the shortfall from Apapa.

The corporation also advised marketers to desist from hoarding or diverting of petroleum products as any marketer caught in the nefarious act would be sanctioned.

The NNPC called on the general public to avoid panic buying of petroleum products as adequate measures had been put in place to supply the nation with PMS.