Return of Fuel Queues; NNPC Blames Thunderstorm, Flooding, Logistics Problems

The NNPC Limited has blamed the cause of fuel queues that have emerged in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and parts of the country on 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 heavy downpour and thunderstorm.

This was revealed in a press statement issued by the corporation’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, who added that 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.”

The NNPC Ltd also stated 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 corporation said, “is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.

That’s not all. The release also said that the situation was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.

The statement, however, assured that the NNPC Ltd was working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.

“Already,” it further revealed, “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 would be restored.

“The NNPC also calls on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products.”