The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has blamed the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja on low load-outs at depots.
In a statement on Monday by its Group General Manager in charge of Group Public Affairs Department, Garba Muhammad said the situation usually happened during a long public holidays.
Nigerians returned to work five days ago after observing Workers’ Day and Eid-el-Fitri holidays.
Muhammad said another contributing factor was the increased fuel purchases, which was also common with returning residents of the Federal Capital Territoty from the public holidays.
“The NNPC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in conjunction with their marketing partners have taken necessary measures to ramp up load-outs from all depots.
“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 litres, with sufficiency of more than 43 days,” he said.
Muhammed said that the NNPC Ltd. advised motorists not to engage in panic buying as supplies were adequate and would become increasingly evident in the coming days.
The fuel queues first re-emerged on Friday in petrol stations across Abuja with many motorists scrambling to get petroleum products.
By Sunday morning, some petrol stations around the metropolis were shut to buyers.
A long queue was seen at NNPC retail outlet central business district area and Oando in Wuse Zone 1, while Saddi Kamal, Mrs Oil, Dan Oil and Danmarna Petroleum Limited, located along Lugbe-Airport Road, were under lock Sunday morning.
