The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd. has ascribed the cause of fuel queues in Abuja and some other parts of the country to logistics and flooding.
NNPC Ltd. disclosed that it was unattainable ‘to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning’ – and assured normalcy as soon as possible.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the company, Olufemi Soneye on Monday.
“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 states 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,” the statement partly read.
It noted that adherence to the regulations is mandatory, stressing that 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.”
NNPC Ltd. also said that it is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.
“Already, 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 statement added.
The global energy company called on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products.
