Flooding delays fuel petrol import discharge
- NNPC moves restore normalcy
Sopuruchi Onwuka
The flashes of flood which overwhelmed drainages and overran major roads across the country were the major reason for fuel scarcity as retail outlets were unable to get supplies, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has explained.
The national oil company stated on Monday that the fuel queues seen in the FCT and some parts of the country were as a result of recent thunderstorm that disrupted lightering of import mother vessels.
Group spokesman, Femi Soneye, declared in a press statement that the adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
The company also explained that it had to shut down petrol loading during rainstorms and lightning due to flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations.
“Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
“Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.
“The NNPC Ltd is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.
“Already, loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy would be restored.
“The NNPC also calls on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products,” Soneye stated.
