Fuel Queues Slowly Disappearing In Abuja
Long queues for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, have slowly disappeared at Filling Stations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following an artificial scarcity witnessed in the last week.
Reports on Sunday indicated that normalcy has been restored with many fuel stations at Central Business District (CBD), Wuse, and Garki as well as the Nyanya-Karu-Kurudu-Orozo-Karshi axis are now selling at the normal rate of N165 per litre and dispensing with all their pumping machines.
Amid scarcity in the nation’s capital, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) last week reported that many fuel stations were seen closed, hoarding or dispensing PMS with one or two pumping machines with queues amidst scarcity in the FCT.
The ugly development had continued despite assurances by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) that it had an abundant stock of PMS to meet domestic needs, hence panic buying should be avoided by members of the public.
Arising from inquiries by NAN, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Abuja Zonal Office said the artificial fuel scarcity experienced in FCT was in anticipation of the speculated planned subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
Zonal Operations Controller of NMDPRA, Mrs Roselyn Wilkie, maintained in an interview that the fuel scarcity was an artificial one, caused by the rumoured fuel subsidy removal and resultant panic buying by Nigerians.
According to her, the authority has intensified surveillance during the period to prevent hoarding, sharp practices and ensure that fuel stations with products utilised the maximum number of pumps linked to their storage tanks.
In this regard, she said the Agency would continue to be responsive and proactive in stopping sharp practices and ensuring the availability of adequate petroleum products is sustained.
The President, Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2022, directed an 18-month suspension of the removal of subsidy on PMS following the Labour Movement threat of a nationwide industrial action led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). – NAN
