Fuel Sells For N900 Per Liter, As Scarcity Bites Harder
. Lagos Govt Warns Filling Stations Against Causing Traffic Gridlock
. MEMAN Promises To End Scarcity By Weekend
The struggle at the filling stations continues today with the prices spiking above the official pump price.
Slye News investigations revealed that some filling stations in Lagos and Ogun State have indiscriminately hike the price to between N800 and N900 per liter as against N580 per liter official rate.
While many filling stations were still under lock and key for lack of product, others who had products were filled with various categories of customers from motorists to motorcycle riders, and Jerry cans all over.
The queues on many occasions extended to major roads thereby causing traffic Gridlock.
Lagos State Government has therefore appealed to fuel stations that have fuel to dispense in the metropolis to ensure that queues of vehicles waiting to obtain supplies do not obstruct the free flow of traffic.
The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, in a statement said it viewed with great concern the disruption of traffic flow by patrons at fuel stations as the resulting gridlock adversely affects the economic activities of individuals and corporate bodies.
The ministry, while advising operators of fuel stations to be orderly by ensuring that their patrons do not constitute any clog to the free flow of traffic, however, warned that violators would be sanctioned for non-compliance.
While noting that the State’s Law Enforcement officers are on surveillance to enforce compliance, the ministry said it will continue to monitor the traffic situation, calling on the general public to report fuel stations disrupting traffic flow.
Meanwhile, the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria, (MEMAN), has said its members will take delivery of products this week and end the scarcity
MEMAN, said, “Our members in Apapa and other locations in Lagos are taking product from 8 vessels this week with over 300 million litres of PMS, well above our normal levels.”
Chairman of MEMAN, Mr. Huub Stokman who also doubles as the Managing Director and CEO of NNPC Retail Service, expressed deep empathy with Nigerians over the current scarcity of PMS which has resulted in long queues at filling stations across Nigeria.
“We are actively coordinating with our member companies through swaps and other supply arrangements to ensure member stations remain stocked.
“Our depots will extend their loading times to ensure we load out as much as we can including tomorrow the 1st of May 2024.
“Our partners in NARTO & PTD have assured us of their support in ensuring the product gets to the retail outlets safely and quickly. We also will extend the opening times of selected retail outlets to ensure we can service our customers as long and as safely possible.
” Independent marketers (depots & stations) are being allocated additional PMS to alleviate the situation.
“We expect the situation to improve in the coming days as supply chains adjust and stabilize.” the statement said.
While empathizing with Nigerians over the return of queues across the country, MEMAN said it remains committed to keeping the public informed and providing timely updates.
“MEMAN deeply empathizes with Nigerians facing the challenges occasioned by the current availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the resulting queues at many retail outlets. “We can see the frustration and difficulties this situation is creating.
The Downstream Regulator, NMDPRA and other key stakeholders across the supply chain are fully engaged and supportive to eliminate the queues as swiftly as possible.
“Our top priority is to restore stability and ensure that fuel supplies reach all depots and retail outlets across Nigeria promptly. While the current situation has been challenging, we want to reassure the public that there is an adequate supply of PMS available.” the Association confirmed.
