The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (NNPCL) has attributed the current petrol scarcity and long queues at filling stations nationwide to recent adverse weather conditions, including rain, lightning, and thunderstorms.
Dapo Segun, the vice-president (downstream) of NNPCL, revealed this during a press conference at the NNPC towers in Abuja.
Segun explained that the severe weather has significantly disrupted the distribution of fuel, causing delays and difficulties in transporting and unloading petroleum products.
He noted that the rains have led to challenges such as siltation in key channels, affecting the navigation of vessels bringing fuel into the country. Additionally, thunderstorms and lightning have necessitated the suspension of fuel discharge and evacuation from tankers for safety reasons.
Segun stated, “We’ll like to apologise to Nigerians for the queues we’ve been seeing springing up. A number of the causes are outside of our control but we’ll do our best to manage. We do not like to make excuses,” Mr Segun stated. “For example, since the rains began, the Estragos channel has been difficult to navigate through. We have vessel after vessel going around there because of siltation, and that has really hindered our ability to bring petroleum products, particularly PMS, up country.”
“We also understand that with the rains also, situations where to discharge petroleum products where there is lightning, thunderstorms, you have to suspend, not just the discharge of petroleum products onshore but also, the evacuation from the tankers. We’ve had situations that have occurred in recent times.
“We’ve also had issues with the road network. That also gives challenges in bringing these products upcountry. The tightness you see in Lagos currently was due to a very short supply gap, which has since been redressed. Vessels are in Lagos now, offloading and discharging as I speak. So, that is definitely short-lived,” the NNPCL executive added.
Segun emphasised the corporation’s commitment to resolving the scarcity and ensuring consistent fuel distribution across the country despite the ongoing challenges.
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