By Abubaka Zarma
The Federal Government through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has identified, isolated and quarantined the adulterated fuel affected by the methanol which has for weeks created economic and physical losses in the country.
Nonetheless, the NMDPRA assured Nigerians of fuel sufficiency in the country, but here in Abuja, where NMDPRA and NNPC have their headquarters, there has been chronic fuel scarcity running into five weeks.
The agency said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) took delivery of 300 million litres of fuel to close the gap created by those vessels withdrawn from the distribution chain.
It said Nigeria currently has 20 days sufficiency of assured non-toxic Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and appealed against panic buying by members of the public.
The downstream petroleum regulatory agency said it was also working round the clock with stakeholders to address the problems caused by the substandard PMS imported into the country which had knocked several engines.
Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, made this known at a meeting with downstream industry stakeholders on Wednesday in Lagos.
The meeting had in attendance officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).
Ahmed said the toxic PMS was discovered to contain methanol above the specified volume, adding that a technical team comprised of stakeholders are working towards resolving the issue.
He said: “Today, I am happy to say that loading has been going on in most of the depots because we have been able to identify, isolate and quarantine the limited amount of gasoline that was affected by the methanol volume that was discovered.
“We have vessels that have arrived the country recently and these vessels have been certified to be carrying non-toxic PMS.
“At least six had arrived in the last few days ordered by the NNPC, carrying a total volume of close to 300 million litres, just to close to gap created by those vessels we have withdrawn from the system.
“All in all, as at today, we have about 20 days sufficiency of PMS in the country.
“Our ideal days of sufficiency is 30 but the withdrawal of the vessel created the gap in our 30 days sufficiency.
“Again, with aggressive importation by the NNPC, this will be closed in a few days from the data we got from the NNPC’s import programme.
“Loading is also on-going in most of the depots that have confirmed spec products so there is no need for panic.
“Hopefully by tomorrow (Thursday) or early Friday, Lagos will be cleared.”
According to him, there was a 9,000MT vessel that was currently about to discharge at the Apapa Port.
He said this vessel would be providing PMS to major marketers including OVH Energy, TotalEnergies, 11 Plc, Con Oil and Ardova Plc.
Ahmed said there were also vessels on ground to supply products to DAPPMAN members while the technical team would continue to work on how to salvage the withdrawn products in their depots.
He however failed to state the punishment or measures taken against the importers of the toxic fuel or those who, through their negligent act, failed to carry out appropriate scrutiny of the toxic fuel before they were offloaded and distributed.
He also did not state any form of compensation to Nigerians nor an apology to those sho suffered loses in different capacities, either engine knock or health wise.
