Fuel scarcity: Nigerians accuse NNPC stations of adjusting pump- Report

Nigerians have pointed accusing fingers at filling stations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, saying that some of the outlets have resorted into reducing their pump quantity amidst the soul-wrecking fuel scarcity.

Worse of all, there seems to be no end in sight to the suffering of Nigerians who endlessly queue up under the scorching sun for the product.

It all started with what the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, described as an “artificial scarcity” last month, lingering into the unbundling crises which saw oil worker embark on a national strike which again, affected the loading of fuel from depots by tanker drivers.

However, at the moment when the NNPC said it had a talk with both the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, and oil workers on how to end the scarcity, NUPENG (National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers )which had teamed up with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN on the strike, again, announced that the scarcity may linger till the end of March, citing slowness during loading at depots as the reason the masses may continue to queue up for fuel.

As at the time Business Times took a tour of few filling stations around Lagos, we noticed, that true to NUPENG’s word that an end may not be in sight, there were queue ups of angry Nigerians, pushing through to have a taste of the scarce  commodity.

Although the two NNPC stations along Apapa/Oshodi expressway had massive turn outs of both commuters and privates, buyers however, had just one song in their mouths, “although they sell at N86 per liter, they are cheating us by reducing the pump.”

“I got to the station around 5 in the morning to meet a long queue. Eventually, I bought fuel of N2000 but, by the time I checked, the quantity was not up to what it used to be. I wish we had numerous choices of where to buy else, I won’t go back there next time. But we don’t have many options because as you can see, many stations have shut down,” Maduka, a private car owner told Business Times.

Another buyer, Kayode Arowolo, lamented a break in trust of the masses by NNPC’S sales attendants. According to him, the Corporation had disappointed Nigerians by not keeping an eye on its workers to assure fairness.

“Who would have thought we could get cheated even at NNPC stations? But yes, it is happening because their pump is below standard,”he lamented.

Business Times also discovered that aside many stations being under lock and key, the likes of Forte Oil, Mobil, and MRS had large queues as buyers affirmed they sold at N86.50k and their pumps were of good standard.

However, Mobil and Total along same Apapa /Oshodi expressway, sold at varying prices, N120/130 per liter.

The problem is definitely not of inadequate stock as NNPC itself had issued out official statements, warning Nigerians against panic and saying that the Corporation has more than enough Premium Motoring Spirit, PMS to last the nation a long time.

NNPC had earlier said strike by petroleum tanker drivers and the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, are to be blamed.

NNPC’s Victor Adeniran, had said the strikes had effect on the movement of the fuel offshore and onshore.

However he said, the NNPC had made special arrangement to provide intervention trucks that would ensure adequate supply of petroleum products in the country.

Mr. Adeniran said that NNPC currently supplies 100 per cent instead of the 48 per cent supplied under normal circumstances.

According to him, the corporation embarked on the 100 per cent supply because other complimentary marketers were not bringing in products.

“As for the product, we have product, the minister gave instruction to ensure supply on a 30-day basis. As I am talking to you now, we have the supply for March and out of the 31 days in March; we have supply for each day. Nigeria’s consumption is one vessel cargo of 30,000 metric tonnes per day and so, we have 31 vessels already lined up for the month of March,” he said.

That figure he said, is aside the nine that are currently being discharged in various ports and jetties in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

According to him, pipeline vandalism was a major hindrance to the operation of the refineries.

“The reason why the refineries are not working is because some of the pipelines that supply crude to them is not functioning. Port Harcourt is running because we are able to fix bonny- Port Harcourt line. As I speak with you, we are pumping crude from Bonny to Port Harcourt refinery,’’ he said

Mr Adeniran noted that Kaduna was not functional because Warri which supplied product to it had yet to be fixed. He said that with pipelines working, movement of products would be made much easier.

Nigerians have also vented on oil marketers as the cause as they see it as a form of protest against the government over removal of fuel subsidy.

The masses fear hoarding on the part of the marketers which many said was a pointer to the scarcity and panic buying leading to hike in prices.

“I left home around 4:am thinking I would not meet a queue here so that I can buy on time and go to work, yet I was shocked when I got here and met a sea of cars and keg-carrying guys already waiting for the attendants. I think I better park my car at home tomorrow. I smell a rat. Buhari should warn the oil marketers,” Mr. Yemi Oke, a Banker lamented.