Number of ships waiting to discharge various petroleum products in the country has dropped from an average of 30 ships weekly to 16 this new year, even as fuel scarcity bits harder in the country.

The drop in the number of vessels waiting to discharge has been attributed to the shortage in supply of Premium motor-spirit otherwise known as petrol.  According to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) shipping Position, only six ships out of the 16 vessels are laden with petrol, while three are carrying automotive gas oil (diesel).

The NPA data also revealed that three of the ships are carrying aviation oil, three laden with kerosene, while one is waiting to discharge buck gas.

Similarly investigation show that only 12 ships have been declared to discharge petroleum product in the next three weeks, as against the usual 40 to 50 that are suppose to bring in their consignment within the period. 

 Speaking with a staff of one of the big oil marketers at Ibru Yard, Lagos, who pleaded anonymity, he said their company had been without product almost through out the festive period, stressing that last year they were working day and night within the period.

He explained that the same applied to more than 12 oil marketers operating at the yard, saying that it was the major cause of the scarcity in the country. Morever, The Tide finding have revealed that most of the major oil marketers were blacklisted by the economic and financial crime commission (EFCC) due to non performing loans.

This it was gathered had promoted the bank to stop giving loans to the marketers, rather they have embarked on drives to recover their money due to the ongoing banking crisis in the country.

It was also learnt that some oil marketers were hoarding their petroleum products against the January deregulation proposed by the Federal Government.