As commuters bemoan the increase in transportation costs, the severe gasoline shortage that has been felt in many areas of Nigeria has persisted.
This comes after reports of fuel shortages in Lagos, Kaduna, and other towns across the nation.
However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has finally provided a reason for the recent fuel scarcity being experienced in Lagos, Abuja, and some other major cities.
The NNPC laid the blame for the lack of fuel and long lines at the filling stations on some road improvements taking place in Lagos, in what appears to be their first public response to the crisis in the downstream oil business.
Adeyemi Adetunju, executive vice president for downstream at NNPC, announced this during a news conference on November 29, 2022, in Abuja.
Adetunju, however, noted that the gridlock is easing as the NNPC has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots, with massive load outs from depots to various states being closely monitored.
‘’The recent queues in Lagos are largely due to ongoing road infrastructure projects around Apapa and access road challenges in some parts of Lagos depots.
“The gridlock is easing out and NNPC has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots and massive load outs from depots to various states are closely being monitored.
“Abuja is impacted by the challenges recorded in Lagos. NNPC retail and key marketers have intensified dedicated loading into Abuja to restore normalcy as soon as possible.”
The NNPC top official assured Nigerians that efforts are ongoing to ensure that normalcy returns as soon as possible.
He said, “We want to reassure all Nigerians that NNPC has sufficient products, and we significantly increased product loading, including 24-hour operations in selected depots and extended hours at strategic stations to ensure products sufficiency nationwide.’’
“We are also working with the NMDPRA, MOMAN, DAPPMAN, IPMAN, NARTO, PTD, and other industry stakeholders to ensure normalcy is returned.”
The NNPC, according to Adetunju, “holds a national gasoline storage of over 2 billion litres. This is sufficient for more than 30 days.
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