FG likens petrol scarcity to ‘accident’ as NNPC begins 24 -hr loading at depots

The Federal Government has likened the prolonged petrol scarcity in the country to an accident, saying it was undesirable and unexpected.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said this in Abuja that the present administration has done a lot over the years to ensure petrol availability and at the right price.

Despite the long queues visible at filling stations across Abuja, Chief Sylva assured that the queues will disappear in the coming days.

He said: “This kind of supply disruptions are like accidents, they are not desirable and you don’t expect them to happen but they do happen once in a while. You will agree with me that this administration has done well as far as fuel supply is concerned.

“But accidents do happen and this is one of those accidents that was not foreseen but I am quite happy today to hear from the Group Managing Director and the Authority (Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority) Chief Executive all that they have been doing to ensure that this problem under control.

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“From what they have told me, I believe that in a matter of days we will see that this problem is totally back to normal. Everybody is putting every effort to ensure that the supply disruption is overcome.”

Earlier, the Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, reiterated that the corporation has enough petrol in stock to end the scarcity, saying: “We are doing everything possible to bring the situation under control.

“We have significant product in stock and as at this evening, we have 1.79 billion litres of premium motor spirit on ground and we are continuing the 24 hours loading at the depots and selling at some selected petrol stations.”

He also stated that the corporation has been working to end racketeering at the depots.

The Star