The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has restated its commitment to ensuring the free flow of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol across Nigeria.
Mr Mele Kyari, the Managing Director of NNPC, disclosed this at the unveiling of the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products in the nation’s capital, Abuja on Thursday, 24th March.
The NNPC boss, who was represented by Adeyemi Adetunji, the Chief Executive Officer Downstream, NNPC Tower, also revealed that the company has over 1.6 billion litres of petrol in stock for consumption of Nigerians nationwide.
Mr Adeyemi Adetunji, said: “NNPC as of today has 1.6 billion litres of PMS which is about 27 days sufficiency. This is to assure Nigerians again that there is an adequate supply of PMS and it is getting to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria. We will continue to ensure that we facilitate the availability of PMS. I appreciate all Nigerians for all their patience and cooperation as we get back to normalcy in terms of petroleum products distribution in the country. After the challenge, we had in January and the global environment for energy got worsened with the crisis in Ukraine and Russia, NNPC will do its best alleviate the plight of Nigerians.”
In the last few weeks, Nigerians have been battling with fuel scarcity, increase in electricity tariffs, high duty fees and unclear economic policy by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration. Consumer prices rose to a record-high of 15.7% in February to compel the central bank-led monetary policy to leave rates unchanged in order to rein in prices without addressing the fundamental issues hampering the nation’s growth.
NNPC, the sole importer of petroleum products that was blamed for importing adulterated fuel that knocked vehicle engines and worsen the plight of Nigerians, has now promised to put an end to fuel scarcity.
In his statement to newsmen, Adetunji also pointed out that the company is working with a number of stakeholders to provide palliatives for Nigerians even as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, represented by the Director of Human Resources in the ministry, Mr Famous Asiegbu, also challenged stakeholders in the Industry to make petroleum products available for citizens.
The current scarcity of fuel is one that has lingered since late February and while there are a number of underlying reasons that have led to this, stakeholders have reiterated that oil theft in the country is one of the major setbacks that affect the availability of fuel in the country.
