Commuters stranded as Abuja motorists hustle for PMS

Fuel scarcity has continued to bite harder across the country as commuters were left stranded at various bus stops in Abuja.

The scarcity has reduced the number of commercial vehicles on the road as motorists join queues in filling stations to scout for petrol.

As of Tuesday in Abuja, commuters crowded various bus stops and were forced to struggle for the few available vehicles at higher fares.

For instance, fares that would normally go for N150 now is increased to either N200 or N250 as transporters blame the hike on the current situation.

While motorists besiege filling stations as early as 3 am to join fuel queues, black marketers seized the opportunity to profit off the situation.

Independent findings by Tribune Online within Abuja shows that a 10-litre gallon of petrol at the black market is sold at N4,000 while filling stations still maintained N165/ litre except for the unending queues.

Scarcity may persist for another three weeks ― IPMAN

While speaking with Tribune Online, on Tuesday, the Spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr Chinedu Ukadike said the situation may yet persist for another three weeks.

He explained that the reason for the scarcity was because the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) does not have Petroleum products in its inland depots.

His words: “Some of the inland depots of NNPC does not have products and some private depots doesn’t also have products that can be put to use but because of these contaminated fuels there is a little breach in the supply chain, the product that NNPC has is not enough for the sufficiency period.

ALSO READ FROM  NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

• (BREAKING): NDLEA Declares DCP Abba Kyari Wanted Over Alleged Involvement In Drug Deal
• Igboho Files $1 Million Suit Against Benin Republic For Unlawful Detention, Violation Of Rights

“So I want to say that this issue of fuel scarcity will just last between two to three weeks.”

Ukadike said the two to three weeks scarcity projection is to allow discharge of the 300million litres ordered by the NNPC even as plans are underway to blend the contaminated 100million litres.

However, he noted the non-availability of sufficient tank reserves to blend the adulterated products saying,”I also want to let you know that some of our PDOs do not have enough tank reservations to be able to keep these two products side so it is also pertinent that the NNPC takes the product to their blending plant and see what they can be able to do with it while they will clean up those tanks. These things will take a period of time.”

He also accused Private Depots Owners of profiteering from the situation as the ex-depot price is now sold between N159-N160 per litre as against the initial N142-N143.

According to him, the development has further discouraged marketers from buying products even as they await supply from NNPC.

“Some PDOs are also profiteering from the situation like product that we buy at N142/litre they are now using second to third bulk sellers to sell it at N159/N160 per litre, if we buy the product at N160 how much would we sell in our filling stations?

“So this thing has dragged our legs from going to buy products but if products are now deposited in the inland depots of the PPMC, we are affirmative enough to go to the depots of PPMC and buy products at government-approved rates,” he stated.

On his part, President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr Billy Harry, disclosed that some filling stations still have bad fuel in stock until the NNPC decides on the mode of evacuation.

Marburg Virus: What You Need To Know About Disease Recently Detected In West Africa

Commuters stranded as Abuja motorists hustle for PMS

FACT CHECK: US Did Not Give Nigeria 48 Hours Ultimatum To Detain Abba Kyari

Commuters stranded as Abuja motorists hustle for PMS