Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has attributed the recent fuel queues in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country to logistics disruptions caused by adverse weather conditions and flooding.
The NNPC explained that the disruptions were primarily due to a recent thunderstorm that impacted the ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels. The severe weather has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs, and the transportation of petrol to filling stations, causing significant supply chain interruptions.
In compliance with Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, the NNPC emphasized that loading petrol during rainstorms and lightning is prohibited due to the flammability of petroleum products. This adherence is crucial to ensure the safety of trucks, filling stations, and human lives.
Additionally, the situation has been worsened by flooding along truck routes, hindering the movement of PMS from coastal areas to Abuja.
The NNPC is actively collaborating with relevant stakeholders to address these logistics challenges and ensure the restoration of normal fuel supply. Loading operations have already resumed in areas where conditions have improved, and the NNPC expects the situation to stabilize further in the coming days.
Motorists are advised to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petrol as efforts to restore seamless supply continue.
