On Wednesday, a scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Abuja and five other states prompted the closure of many filling stations, causing lengthy queues at the remaining outlets.
Thousands of commuters across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, and Anambra found themselves stranded as transportation services were hindered by the lack of PMS needed to operate vehicles.
As a result, transport fares skyrocketed in the affected areas, with the few available transporters raising their rates.
The shortage in PMS supply to the nation’s capital and other states forced many filling stations to shut down, exacerbating the situation.
Oil marketers announced plans to meet with the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s retail subsidiary on Thursday to investigate the cause of the shortage and devise solutions.
Several filling stations, including NNPC outlets in Zuba, Niger State, and the Arab Road outlet in Kubwa, Abuja, were unable to dispense petrol on Wednesday.
Numerous other stations along the Kubwa-Zuba expressway and in Nyanya, Nasarawa State, also closed their doors.
The closure of these stations placed immense pressure on the few remaining outlets that had PMS, resulting in massive queues of motorists.
Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicles crowded around Conoil and Total filling stations near the NNPC corporate headquarters in Abuja, causing traffic congestion on roads leading to the area and adjacent businesses in the Central Business District.
READ ALSO: Owner of Abuja Chinese Supermarket Flees Amid Discrimination Allegations- Workers Reveal
“It is obvious that there is supply shortage in Abuja and other states that are close to the FCT (Federal Capital Territory),” the National Secretary, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief John Kekeocha, told our correspondent.
He added, “This is the reason why many filling stations in these areas are not selling PMS, which, of course, has led to the serious queues you see in the few ones that are dispensing the product. I cannot tell you the reason for this supply shortage now.
“But we are meeting with NNPC Regal tomorrow (Thursday), and this is going to form part of our discussions. The matter is being looked into right now, and we hope to find a solution to it during the meeting.”
Earlier, Abubakar Maigandi, the National President of IPMAN, informed our correspondent that the long queues for petrol in numerous states would disappear once the Dangote Petroleum Refinery commences supplying PMS to the local market.
However, when questioned about whether the refinery had informed marketers about its commencement date for supplying the product, Maigandi responded, “We are unaware of the exact timing. Nonetheless, given his assurance to commence operations, I am confident that it will indeed happen.”
