Days after the emergence of long queues at petrol stations, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has offered an explanation for the occurrence.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Adeyemi Adetunju, the NNPC executive vice president (Downstream) blamed the situation on road constructions across the country, particularly Abuja and Lagos.
According to Adetunji, the ongoing road infrastructure projects around Apapa and access road challenges in some parts of Lagos depots has been the major reason for scarcity of products in the commercial city.
“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,” Adetunji assured Nigerians.
He maintained that Abuja is also impacted by the challenges affecting Abuja.
The top NNPC official, however, noted that retail and key marketers have intensified loading of products to restore normalcy to Abuja in the coming days.
He reassured Nigerians that the NNPC has sufficient products and has increased product loading including 24-hour operations in selected depots while extending hours at strategic stations to ensure product sufficiency nationwide.
“The NNPC has a “national PMS stock of over two billion litres. This is equivalent to over 30 days of sufficiency,” he said.
Adetunji advised Nigerians against panic buying which, according to him, has been experienced during scarcity periods over the years.