Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited,says the return of fuel queues in the Federal Capital Territory and some parts of the country,were due to disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.
The adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics, Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer,NNPC Ltd said in a statement on Monday.
The statement also quoted 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,the statement said,is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
It added:”Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.
“The NNPC Ltd is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.
“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 will restored.
“The NNPC also calls on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products”.
