Few days after the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, threatened to shut down over 900 filling stations in Lagos and Ogun following NNPC’s undersupplying its members with PMS and going back on the bulk purchase agreement it signed with the petroleum marketers to supply petroleum product at N133.28k per litre.
Over a year after facing fuel hike nationwide, Lagosians are worried that the fuel scarcity is back after some filling stations in Lagos Mainland as at Monday, December 4, 2017, were seen filled with long vehicle queues.
Some motorist while speaking with Eyes Of Lagos in the early hours of Tuesday, December 5, 2017 confirmed that they had been on the queue since as early as 5am and that they were also on the queue the previous day. Others said some petrol stations were selling fuel at 150 per liter, while some refused to sell at all.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through its Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, has issued a statement saying that there was no plan to increase the prices of petroleum products.
“The NNPC has the full commitment of all downstream stakeholders, including petroleum marketers and industry unions to cooperate in achieving zero fuel scarcity this season and beyond. We enjoin motorists not to engage in panic buying or indulge in the dangerous practice of stocking petroleum products in jerry cans at home. The Petroleum Products Marketing Company and NNPC Retail Limited are fully geared up to ensure that motorists enjoy uninterrupted access to petrol throughout the nation,’’ he said.
