Nigeria Has 2.68bn Litres Of Petrol In Stock, NNPC Says
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday, said the country has nothing less than 2.68 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol in-country and marine storage to meet daily demand in the country.
Allaying fears of the product’s scarcity, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru told Economic Confidential that the current storage would take 60 days even if Nigerians consumes 45 million litres every day.
“I can confirm that we have about 2.68 billion litres of petrol in-country and marine storage. If you translate that to the prevailing 45 million litres daily consumption figures, it would translate to 60 days sufficiency,” Obateru said.
According to him, two more petrol laden vessels berthed at the Ports on Tuesday discharging 250 million litres of petrol.
However, motorists and other consumers called petrol were on Monday faced with long queues, as most fuel stations were lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other states of the federation.
Coming amid lockdown of major cities, especially Lagos, Ogun and the FCT, mots fuel station belonging to the major marketers as well as independent marketers were under lock as Obateru blamed the development on fear by tanker drivers.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday, announced the shutdown of Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Ogun State with a view to containing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Buhari however exempted services such as medical establishments as well as organisations in health care-related manufacturing and distribution; commercial establishments such as food processing, distribution and retail companies; petroleum distribution and retail entities; power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and private security companies
Following directive by the Federal Government, NNPC disclosed activation of measures to guarantee seamless distribution of fuel across the country throughout the period of the lockdown and beyond.
Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company, NNPC’s downstream subsidiary, Musa Lawan, said PPMC workforce has been mobilized to provide loading services throughout the period of the envisaged lockdown.
The PPMC boss called on motorists and other consumers of petroleum products not to engage in hoarding or panic buying of petrol, noting that the Corporation was ready to provide enough products across the country.
Lawan also disclosed that two more petrol laden vessels were expected to berth at the Ports by Tuesday, noting that the vessels would be discharging 250 million litres of petrol.
On the recent complaints of non-availability of personal protective equipment against the Coronavirus for tanker drivers by the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Lawan assured that the PPMC was engaging with the stakeholders to address the issue of safety kits for tanker drivers.
