Petrol Scarcity Will Ease Next Week—Kyari Assures Nigerians

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Nigerians have been assured that the long queues seen at various filling stations across the country will reduce from next week as efforts are being made to ramp up the supply of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, in the country.

This assurance was given by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Mele Kyari, during an interview with Channels Television.

While speaking with one of the Channels TV’s anchors, Mr Seun Okinbaloye, the NNPC chief said his organisation was working tirelessly to put the situation under control.

The current petrol scarcity resurfaced in the last quarter of 2022, with consumers buying the product as high as N320 per litre in Lagos instead of the official pump price of N170 per litre.

This situation has caused tension in some parts of the country, sparking protests in Ibadan in Oyo State and Abeokuta in Ogun State.

But Mr Kyari has called for calm, assuring motorists and Nigerians that things would improve in the coming weeks.

“Now, within the next one week, I’m not saying that you’re going to have zero queues within the next one week, no, because a number of things are out of our control, and of course, the market forces will determine some of these issues.

“But I believe that we’re going to see substantial and relative ease compared to today in the next one week,” the NNPC boss stated.

He apologised to Nigerians for the pain the situation has put them through in the past months, taking responsibility for this.