Easter: NNPC Pledges Adequate Product Supply …As Scarcity Of Fuel Persists In PH

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured the public of adequate supply of petroleum products during the Easter celebration even as residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and its environs are currently experiencing fuel scarcity as long queues have returned to filling stations.
The Group Managing Director of the corporation, MrMaikantiBaru gave the assurance yesterday in Enugu at the ongoing 30th Enugu International Trade Fair.
Baru said that the NNPC would provide petroleum products to all parts of the country.
He said that no fewer than 55 depots across the country were fully stocked with petroleum products, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
“To make the Easter holidays pleasurable, the NNPC has put all the necessary arrangements in place to berth two vessels of 50 million litres of petrol daily.He said: “I am delighted to inform you that NNPC has ensured that all the nook and crannies of the country are kept wet with Petroleum products. As I speak, on fewer than 55 depots across the country are fully stocked with petroleum products including premium motor spirit otherwise called petrol. These depots include 23 in Lagos, seven in Port Harcourt, 11 in Warrior, 6 in Calabar and 8 in Kaduna.
“Also to make the Easter holiday that is fast approaching pleasurable, NNPC has put all the necessary arrangements in place to berth two vessels of 50million litres of petrol daily.
Baru who was represented by AniboKragha, NPC Chief Operating Officer, Refineries and Petrol Chemicals cautioned depot owners or terminal operators against selling petrol above the official ex-depot price of N133.28 noting that price of petrol remains N145 per litre in the country.
“Any station which sells the product above the regulated price should be reported to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Industry regulator or to any law enforcement agency,” he urged.
“I caution depot owners or terminal operators against selling petrol above the official ex-depot price of N133.28k per litre.
“Consumers of the product should be informed that the price of petrol in the country remains N145 per litre,” he said.
Baru warned that any station that sold the product above the regulated price would be reported to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
Motorists in Port Harcourt are made to spend several hours on the queues before buying petrolsince Monday this week.
The scarcity has led to less traffic on the road, making school children and other passengers to face serious difficulties going about their businesses.
Motorists who could not wait patiently for their turns now patronised black-marketers, buying petrol at N250 per litre while some filling station have begun to sell the product at N150 and above using hand calculators.
The cost of transportation within the city had also risen due to the situation.
A N150 taxi fare for some destinations went up to N300 while bus charges for a distance which used to be N50 is now N100.
A commercial bus driver, Levi Okorie, said that the government should not allow the situation to linger for a long time.
Jacob Nze, a taxi driver, said that the difficulties faced by the citizenry during petrol scarcity period are indescribable.
“Government should do something quickly; this is having negative effects on all of us,” he said.
Also speaking, another commercial driver, Isaiah Jaja, said that the situation would affect productivity in places of work.
There are reports that the current scarcity is caused by non-importation of products due to the government’s failure to remit funds.
As of 10am yesterday morning, most of the filling stations were still locked up as the owners refused to sell, hoping that the scarcity would force an increase in the pump price of petrol.
At the Karibi filling station on Iwofe Road in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, fuel was sold at the normal price as the queue continued to build up.
A commercial tricycle rider, who identified himself simply as James, told our correspondent that the scarcity was as a result of the rumour that the depot in Port Harcourt was no longer distributing fuel.
“Immediately the rumour got to these fuel dealers, they began to close their filling stations. The few ones that opened did not believe the rumour. That is what is causing this scarcity,” James stated.
When contacted, the Media Officer, Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company, IkennaOkpani, said he was not aware of any fuel scarcity, adding that there was no reason for dealers to close their fuel stations.
“I am not aware that there is any fuel scarcity. There is no reason for such because from our end here, we are producing,” Okpani said.