By Adedapo Adesanya
The House of Representatives has passed a resolution to carry out a forensic investigation into the resurgence of fuel queues in parts of the country.
This followed an urgent motion by Mr Billy Osawuru, a lawmaker, on Tuesday after petrol scarcity resurged in some states over the weekend.
The Green Chamber of the National Assembly is also investigating the alleged indiscriminate issuance of licences for the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the importation of substandard petroleum products, as well as the failure of regulators.
The lawmakers questioned why the issue of fuel scarcity continues to resurface despite repeated assurances by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and petroleum marketers.
The NNPC has since blamed the resurfacing of fuel queues on the disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from a recent thunderstorm.
NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr Olufemi Soneye, in a statement released on Monday, said the adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, disrupting station supply logistics.
The clarification came following reports of long fuel queues in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country.
Mr Soneye also said that due to the flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
It said, “The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the fuel queues seen in the FCT and some parts of the country, were as a result of disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from a recent thunderstorm.
“The adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
“The NNPC Ltd also states that due to the flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
“Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose a severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
“Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.”
It also said it is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore a seamless supply of petrol to affected areas and called on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding petroleum products.
It added that loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and it is hoped the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy will restored.
Modupe Gbadeyanka