Barely one month after the country experienced fuel scarcity, long queues have resurfaced in filling stations in some parts of Lagos.
In virtually all the filling stations along Epe, Ajah and Lekki axis, there were long queues of vehicles and motor cyclists, struggling to get the product. The scarcity created a field day for road side petrol hawkers, who made brisk business by selling to desperate buyers. For example, a four-litre gallon was sold for between N600 and N700, as against the official one-litre price of N86.50k. The scarcity was also noticed within the Mile 2 – Apapa axis, where some filling stations remained closed.
Commenting on the issue, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said that there was hitch in the products supply system in the Lagos area arising from the leadership tussle between the Mobil branch and national office of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, PTDU.
According to Ohi Alegbe, Group General Manager, Public Affairs, NNPC, the management of the midstream subsidiary of the NNPC, the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, has intervened in the dispute as he assured that normalcy will soon be restored.
Alegbe explained that there was sufficient stock of products in Lagos and across the country and advised motorists not to resort to panic buying as the situation was under control. He further reiterated the Corporation’s commitment to uninterrupted product supply to the general public in keeping with its mandate.
