By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
The NNPC Ltd. yesterday explained that the fuel queues seen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and some parts of the country, were as a result of disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, between mother vessels and daughter vessels resulting from recent thunderstorms.
The adverse weather condition, NNPC said, has also affected berthing at jetties, truck loadouts and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics, according to its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye.
.NNPC further noted that due to flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the FCT, Abuja.
NNPC further said it is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas, even as reports say there are more underlying beyond logistics, particularly, shortage of the product.
“Already, loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy would be restored,” it added.
The NNPC also calls on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products.
The adverse weather condition, NNPC said, has also affected berthing at jetties, truck loadouts and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
