With pockets of queues at filling stations heralding a gradual return of fuel crisis in the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Friday announced a number of measures to ensure adequate supply of petroleum products to consumers.
The Executive Director (Commercial), Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Justine Ezeala, said in Abuja that the corporation has a projected stock of 1.4 billion litres of petrol, available for distribution nationwide for November.
“The current fuel queues in some major cities across the country have nothing to do with the lack of supply of petroleum products,” Mr. Ezeala said while providing update on the current fuel supply situation in the country.
“I can assure Nigerians that we have enough stock of petroleum products to satisfy the nation’s domestic consumption requirement,” he said.
Mr. Ezeala announced a number of extra measures adopted by the corporation to check the queues that have been developing at most filling stations in Abuja and environs.
He said the PPMC has increased the volume of petroleum products being transported to fuel stations across major cities in the country.
To ensure that the products are available to consumers, the director said most of the 37 retail mega stations owned by NNPC across the country have been directed to commence 24-hour service.
“NNPC Retail has 513 retail outlets all over the country; and the strategy is that every one of these stations is designed to have products at all times. But, in addition we have decided that most of the mega stations will adopt 24 hours operation model.
“Where for security reasons that arrangement cannot be met, we are going to have extended hours of operation in such locations starting from 5 a.m. till about 10 p.m. daily,” he said.
On NNPC Retail operations, Oladipo Fagbola, said that apart from the 24-hour service, the corporation has opened some hotlines to enable members of the public provide useful feedback and intelligence on the operations of mega and affiliate filling stations across the country. The hotlines include: 08057008021, 08052195801 and 08100941174.
He urged members of the public to provide useful information to assist the corporation achieve its mandate and responsibility to the fuel consumers.
