Why Fuel Queues Have Returned To Abuja NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says low loadouts are one of the reasons behind the recent return of long queues in filling stations in Abuja.

This is according to a series of tweets on the NNPC handle late Sunday.

“The NNPC Ltd notes the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja. This is very likely due to low loadouts at depots which usually happen during long public holidays, in this case, the Sallah celebrations,” the agency said.

It explained that another reason for the development is the “increased fuel purchases which are also usual with returning residents of the FCT from the public holidays”.

But it called on Nigerians and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) particularly not to panic over the development.

“We assure all residents of the FCT, and indeed all Nigerians, that we have ample local supplies and national stock in excess of 2.5 billion liters, with a sufficiency of more than 43 days,” it added.

“The NNPC Ltd hereby advises motorists not to engage in panic buying as supplies are adequate as will become increasingly evident in the coming days.”

The recent development is coming a few months after fuel queues resurfaced in the country due to the importation of “bad fuel” into Nigeria.

Lawmakers had then initiated a probe into the matter as calls came for those found guilty to be punished.  The House of Representatives had then called on the NNPC to suspend the companies involved in the importation.

But in April, the lower chamber said nobody would be sanctioned over the supply of the adulterated product.

This was after it considered and adopted the reviewed report on the investigation by its Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) which exonerated both the NNPC and the suppliers in the Direct Sale-Direct Purchase deal between the Federal Government and the importers.