President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, has given reasons for the increasing petrol queues across the nation.
Gillis-Harry identified the shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) supply from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as the cause of the recent fuel scarcity in Abuja, Nasarawa, and other states.
Speaking during an interview with DAILY POST on Saturday, Gillis-Harry discussed the resurgence of fuel queues across Nigeria, highlighting the shortage reported in the nation’s capital, neighbouring Nasarawa, and other states as motorists rush to secure fuel.
On Friday, long queues were observed at the NNPCL retail filling station along Kubwa Expressway and Ranoil in Gwarimpa. Many stations along the Kubwa Expressway, Lugbe, and Airport Road were out of fuel by Saturday morning.
Gillis-Harry recounted his visits to numerous filling stations, all of which were without fuel. He explained that fuel marketers are unable to set prices as they do not import the product themselves, selling instead at prices determined by their purchase costs.
The current scarcity and fuel queues stem from PETROAN members and other marketers not having any fuel to sell.
“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 said.
Addressing whether the upcoming fuel supply from Dangote refinery in mid-July 2024 could be responsible for the shortage, Gillis-Harry noted that Dangote refinery has not yet delivered any fuel, including Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).
He emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by the refinery in meeting its deadlines and 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.
“While NNPCL has a few filling stations, PETROAN and other stakeholders operate numerous stations across the country. Ensuring all major stakeholders are informed and engaged is vital to prevent such shortages,” he explained.
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.
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