21/02/2014
Nigeria: Why Petrol Scarcity Is On in Some Nigerian States - NNPC
BY MOHAMMED LERE, 20 FEBRUARY 2014
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on Wednesday attributed the partial fuel scarcity experienced in some states to disruption in the distribution of the product.
The Acting General Manager, the Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Omar Ibrahim, disclosed this in Abuja.
He, however, assured Nigerians that normalcy would return in the distribution of the petroleum products by Thursday.
Mr. Ibrahim said that the scarcity was due to attack on two points of its major pipelines at Akute in Lagos and Ogere in Ogun, where pipelines were vandalised by saboteurs.
He noted that the problem was that of distribution but not shortage of supply, saying that the corporation had been working on the two points to restore operations since Tuesday.
"It was a problem of distribution and not shortage of supply, and it was due to the vandalisation of the two main lines of Mosimi and Atlas Cove. Our team has started working since Tuesday and as at 2.30 pm today (Wednesday), we have started re-streaming Mosimi line and by 4.18 p.m., we were able to pump to Atlas Cove. With the two lines in operation, normalcy will return immediately because we are also monitoring the pipeline," he said.
He advised Nigerians not to engage in panic buying.
The Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, a subsidiary of the NNPC responsible for the supply of the products said there were enough products in stock.
The PPMC spokesperson, Nasir Imodagbe, said, "We have robust supply of fuel, same with NNPC to serve the country for days; I don't know where the issue of scarcity is coming from."
While warning marketers not to engage in hoarding of fuel, Mr. Imodagbe warned that anyone caught would be dealt with
"We are appealing to Nigerians not to engage in panic buying, because there are enough products to keep the country moving. We advise the marketers not to hoard fuel as anyone caught would be sanctioned," he said.
Fuel scarcity is currently on in some Nigerian states including Lagos and Plateau.
(NAN)
