Long queues for fuel has resurfaced in filling stations across Lagos and Ogun states on Friday, creating fear of impending fuel scarcity.
According to The PUNCH, petroleum marketers attributed the queues to non-availability of Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as fuel in filling stations located in Lagos and Ogun states as a result of shortage in supply.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited also confirmed that there were no products in its Apapa depots.
The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, had said on Monday that there was a little hitch in the distribution of the product and expressed optimism that normalcy would be restored after the Easter break.
“Yes, I think there was a little infraction in supply. The Easter holidays from Friday to Monday also added to the situation. I think from Wednesday it will ease off.
“There was little problem with supply even before the holidays. There was a little hiccup in supply, and the holiday added to it. I am sure will start getting better after the holidays,” Fashola said.
However, the situation seems to be getting worse four days after the Easter break.
The spokesperson for the NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, in a message on Friday, confirmed that there were queues at NNPCL stations, noting that there were no products at the company’s Apapa depots.
He said that the NNPCL has carried out a review and there is no sign of scarcity in Lagos.
Soneye said, “There were no products at our Apapa depots. We have carried out a review and there was no sign of scarcity in Lagos.
“It is only the NNPC Retail stations that have queues due to our price differential.”
However, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria differed with the NNPCL as it confirmed queues at its filling stations.
The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clement Isong, explained that there was low stock over the Easter weekend for some of the members, adding that this resulted from truck out to supply stations without replenishment at its depots.
Isong noted that this resulted in outages in some retail outlets during the past week.
However, he said that the depots were currently receiving PMS supplies from the NNPC Trading and would continue to do so throughout the weekend.
Isong said, “Thank you for reaching out to us regarding the recent concerns about fuel scarcity. We understand the importance of addressing these issues promptly and transparently to provide clarity to the public.
”There was low stock over the Easter weekend for some MEMAN members resulting from truck out to supply stations without replenishment at our depots.
“This led to outages in some retail outlets during the past week. Depots are currently receiving PMS supplies from the NNPC Trading and shall continue to do so through the coming weekend.
”Moving forward, we want to assure the public that supplies have resumed and all MEMAN members are collaborating closely to expedite the distribution process. Members are working tirelessly at our depots, including extended hours and weekends, to ensure that retail outlets are adequately stocked.
”Our collective goal is to eliminate fuel queues and stabilise the supply chain before the upcoming Sallah holidays next week.”
Fashola also confirmed that the depots had started loading fuel.
He said, “It is good not to allow queues to occur at all because to arrest the queues usually takes a little time. But from what I saw yesterday (Thursday), over 400 trucks went to the MRS depot to load fuel. So, I am very confident that the queues will soon ease off. You know when it starts, we have to double efforts to address the situation.
“Like I said before, there was a little shortfall in supply and the Easter holidays compounded the issue for us. But with the way they have started working yesterday throughout the weekend, I am sure by Monday we should have a relief.
“When things like this happen, people will start engaging in panic buying. You see people with jerry cans going to stations to buy fuel just to keep. This is very bad and dangerous. People must be sensitised to this.”
He then dispelled rumours claiming that marketers were hoarding fuel because the Federal Government wanted to reduce prices.
The queues of desperate motorists in some of the filling stations affected the free flow of traffic in two states.
The situation affected the number of commercial vehicles on the roads.
It was observed that the scarcity has started affecting transport fares.
