The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has attributed the current fuel shortages, leading to long queues at fueling stations and sudden hike in prices in some parts of the nation to disruption of ship-to-ship transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.
The company said bad weather conditions has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
In a statement signed and released by its chief corporate communications officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Monday, NNPC Ltd explained 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.
“The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the fuel queues seen in the FCT and some parts of the country, were as a result of 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,
“Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives,” it said.
Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes, which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the FCT Abuja.
The company said it is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues and urged customers to resist hoarding and panic buying of the product.
