The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, has identified the shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) supply from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as the main cause of the recent fuel scarcity affecting Abuja, Nasarawa, and other states.
In a recent interview with DAILY POST, Gillis-Harry discussed the resurgence of fuel queues across Nigeria, particularly highlighting the shortages reported in the nation’s capital and its neighbouring state, Nasarawa. Motorists have been rushing to secure fuel, leading to long queues and empty stations.
According to Naija News, long queues were observed on Friday at NNPCL retail filling stations along Kubwa Expressway and Ranoil in Gwarimpa. By Saturday morning, many stations along Kubwa Expressway, Lugbe, and Airport Road were out of fuel.
Gillis-Harry, who visited numerous filling stations in Abuja, noted that none had fuel. He explained that fuel marketers cannot set prices as they do not import the product themselves; instead, they sell at prices determined by their purchase costs from NNPCL.
The scarcity and fuel queues result from PETROAN members and other marketers not having any fuel to sell. Gillis-Harry emphasized that the situation is beyond the control of the marketers as NNPCL is the sole importer of the product.
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“Yesterday (Friday), I went to over fifteen filling stations in Abuja, including NNPCL retail outlets, but there was no product. If prices increase, it’s due to the cost at which the product is bought. We don’t have the product, and that’s why there’s a scarcity. We can’t set prices because we don’t import; NNPCL is the sole importer,” Gillis-Harry stated.
Addressing whether the upcoming fuel supply from the Dangote refinery in mid-July 2024 could be responsible for the shortage, Gillis-Harry clarified that the Dangote refinery has not yet delivered any fuel, including Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).
He highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the refinery in meeting its deadlines and stressed the critical need for NNPCL to maintain its import activities. “NNPCL can’t halt its imports just because Dangote refinery’s supply is forthcoming. Nigerians rely on PMS daily, and Dangote hasn’t produced a liter of PMS yet. The issue lies with NNPCL’s supply challenges,” he said.
Gillis-Harry also pointed out that while NNPCL has a few filling stations, PETROAN and other stakeholders operate numerous stations across the country. He emphasized the importance of ensuring all major stakeholders are informed and engaged to prevent such shortages.
The National Bureau of Statistics recently reported that the average price of petrol per liter rose to N769.62 in May, reflecting the ongoing issues in the fuel supply chain.
For more details, you can read the full article on Naija News.
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