The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has threatened to withdraw the licences of oil marketers found guilty of hoarding Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, following the ongoing scarcity in Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and many other states.
Some states, particularly those in the North, have experienced continuous petrol scarcity for a while now, leading to many stations closing due to a lack of supply. However, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has issued a warning to oil marketers that filling stations hoarding petrol and selling it to black marketers in jerrycans would have their licences withdrawn.
The warning was delivered by the Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, in a video clip shared by the regulator during an inspection tour in Abuja. Ukoha was heard telling one of the managers of the inspected stations, “You need to take this [warning] very seriously. If you need security reinforcements, speak to your management.”
He emphasized that retail petrol stations should stop encouraging the sale of products to black marketers who dispense the products in jerrycans. Ukoha noted that such actions posed serious safety concerns and should be discontinued.
Additionally, on its X handle, the downstream regulator declared a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products. “NMDPRA embarks on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans. Filling stations are advised to desist from servicing illegal peddlers; failure to do so would result in the suspension of retail licences,” the agency stated.
On July 27, NNPC Ltd spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, explained that the fuel scarcity witnessed in Abuja and Lagos was due to a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels. “The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT is a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” Soneye had explained.
According to him, the company was working around the clock with all stakeholders to resolve the situation and restore normalcy in operations. At some point, the NNPC also attributed the fuel crisis to bad weather, adding that flooding of truck routes had constrained the movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja. He noted that loading had commenced at the time.
Despite these assurances, petrol scarcity has persisted in many northern states.
