By Stella Odueme
The NNPC Ltd has attributed the fuel queues in parts of the Federal Capital Territory FCT and the country to disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.
The queues resulted to panic buying with some motorists paying as much as N1, 200 for a litre of fuel in parts of Abuja.
But NNPCL in a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye on Monday assured that the situation is being resolved in collaboration with stakeholders.
The statement reads on parts;
“The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the fuel queues seen in the FCT and some parts of the country, were as a result of disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.
“The adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.”
The NNPC Ltd also stated that due to flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
” Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
” Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.
” The NNPC Ltd is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.”
Already, the statement said that loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided; “and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy would be restored.
“The NNPC also calls on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products.”
