Fuel Scarcity: NNPC, IPMAN caution against panic buying

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has called on Nigerians to exercise patience as effort is being made to address the current fuel scarcity occasioned by the flooding which led to the destruction of some major roads in some parts of Northern states.

The IPMAN Chairman, Northern Nigeria branch, Alhaji Bashir Danmalam made the call in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday, in Kano.

Danmalam disclosed that about 200 trucks loaded with the commodity from Calabar , Cross River State are being expected in Abuja and other parts of Northern states for onward distribution to filling stations.

The IPMAN Chairman said the trucks are expected to come through Ikom, Ogoja, Katsina Ala, Vandeikia up to Lafiya to Abuja.

SOLACEBASE had reported that Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, on Thursday said there is no need for panic buying as efforts are being made to address the challenges of scarcity of fuel created due to the flooding in parts of Kogi and Niger States that prevented the passage of petroleum trucks for distribution of products to Abuja and some northern states.

The company in a statement on Thursday by Garba Muhammad, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC Ltd. said the current queue situation in some parts of Abuja and its environs was as a result of delays in arrival of fuel trucks.

Muhammad said this was happening as a result of heavy flooding that had submerged parts of the highway passing through Lokoja, Kogi.

He also said that an incidence of a failed road section around Badegi-Agaie highway in Niger State also contributed.

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Danmalam commended the Managing Director of Petroleum Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi for pledging to support marketers with diesel in order to reduce the hardship being experienced as a result of the high cost of the product.

He said NNPC limited in collaboration with IPMAN were making frantic effort to ensure adequate supply and distribution of the product adding that very soon the scarcity will be over as there is enough fuel in stock.

He said following the flooding, most of the major roads being used by the marketers had gone bad as most truck drivers spend between eight and nine days especially on Koton Karfe road before reaching their destination.

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He noted that some of the affected roads include Bida lemu- zungeru road, Minna-Tagina (6km from Minna Makonkele) and Tegina-Mokwa road as well as Mokwa- Makera to Minna (Bakane) and Lambata-Lapai-Agaie-Bida Roads.

He explained that the NNPC had also mobilized the Federal Road Safety Corps personnel to assist in clearing the affected roads for smooth transportation of the commodity to northern parts of the country.

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In addition, he said the NNPC had directed the CCC Chinese company which is working on the affected roads to relocate to the damaged potions of the roads to hasten work and smooth transportation of vehicles.

“The NNPC has also mobilized Dantata & Sawoe to start work on damaged potions of the affected roads to enable the trucks transport the product within the shortest time possible,’’ Danmallam said.