The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued a grave warning, predicting that the current scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) may continue for up to two more weeks. The Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, revealed this alarming news in response to the widespread shortage of petrol affecting numerous states.
Ukadike explained that the unavailability of the product is a significant challenge due to ongoing maintenance at refineries in Europe, making sourcing difficult. He further attributed the acute scarcity to importation hurdles and delays in the renewal of marketers’ licences by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
“Once there is a breach in the international supply chain, it will have an impact on domestic supply because we depend on imports.
“I also have it on good authority that most of the refineries in Europe are undergoing turnaround maintenance, so sourcing petroleum products has become a bit difficult.
“NNPC Group CEO has assured us that there will be improvement in the supply chain because their vessels are arriving.“Once that is done, normalcy will return. This is because once the 30-day supply sufficiency is disrupted, it takes two to three months to restore it”, he stated.
The fuel crisis has had a severe impact on transportation in key cities such as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and Lagos State, with reports of stations shutting down and accusations of hoarding. Consequently, long queues have become a common sight at stations still dispensing petrol, disrupting daily activities for many.
