In response to the resurgence of fuel queues across the nation, the Federal Government has initiated measures to address the concerns of oil transporters and distributors to evade fuel scarcity.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, convened a meeting with key stakeholders in the downstream sector, including the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), in Abuja.
The fuel queues emerged following NARTO’s decision to suspend operations, citing the exorbitant cost of operations and vehicle maintenance. The association highlighted the high cost of diesel, which exceeds N1,300 per litre, required to fuel their trucks for nationwide transportation and distribution of petroleum products.
As a result, many fuel stations in Abuja were unable to dispense Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel, with those still operating experiencing long queues and selling fuel between N617 and N675 per litre. Even NNPC Ltd. retail outlets, selling at N617 per litre, faced extended queues, while black market activities were observed on the roads.
Minister Lokpobiri acknowledged the transporters’ concerns, emphasizing the government’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions. He assured continuous engagement to alleviate the challenges faced by stakeholders, emphasizing the need to prevent further hardship for Nigerians amidst existing economic strains.
“Nigerians are already going through a lot as a result of the circumstances we found ourselves in. The issues they raised are commercial and as a government, we have to intervene so that Nigerians will not suffer. At the end of the engagement, there will be a solution,” Senator Lokpobiri stated.
