The latest round of fuel scarcity might end in a few days’ time if the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation sustained the current level of supply of Premium Motor Spirit, major oil marketers and depot owners said on Wednesday.

The Major Marketers Association of Nigeria confirmed that its members, including Total Nigeria Plc, 11 Plc (formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc), Oando Plc, Conoil Plc, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc and Forte Oil Plc, were receiving the product from the NNPC.

“The NNPC has been giving us product and we have been distributing it; all what we are hoping for is that they should continue at the rate they are giving us,” the Executive Director, MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, told our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday.

Asked if there would be an end to the current fuel scarcity any time soon, he said, “It is gradual. If they keep giving us the product like this, the scarcity should end in a few days’ time.”

On Tuesday, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association said its members did not have petrol in their tanks despite the recent announcement by the NNPC that it had started offloading products in depots across the country.

When contacted on Wednesday, the Executive Secretary, DAPPMA, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, said, “Two of our depots have received products now and they are loading. Unfortunately, one of them that was supposed to load was turned back. I don’t know why; I am still trying to investigate. But two of them have received product and they are loading.

“We are loading and we are going to keep loading. Our members have promised to do 24 hours until the queues disappear, provided they get the product.”

A top official of a Lagos-based oil marketing company, who spoke to  one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said a new vessel, named Captain Gregory, arrived in Apapa on Wednesday morning, laden with about 35 million metric tonnes of petrol.

“If supply can be consistent like this, things will get better and people should be able to celebrate New Year without fuel scarcity,” the source said.
(Source : Punch Newspaper)