The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to oil marketers, threatening to withdraw their licences if they are found guilty of hoarding Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol.
This comes as petrol scarcity continues to affect Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and many other states, particularly in the North.
The scarcity has led to many petrol stations closing due to a lack of supply, worsening the situation for residents.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has warned that filling stations caught hoarding petrol and selling it to black marketers in jerrycans will face severe consequences, including the loss of their licences.
The Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, delivered the warning during an inspection tour in Abuja.
In a video shared by the regulator, Ukoha was heard telling a station manager, “You need to take this (warning) very seriously. If you need security reinforcements, speak to your management.”
He emphasized that retail petrol stations must stop encouraging the illegal sale of petrol to black marketers, especially in jerrycans, as it poses serious safety risks.
NMDPRA also took to its X handle to declare its stance against the illegal sale of petroleum products. “NMDPRA embarks on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans. Filling stations are advised to desist from servicing illegal peddlers; failure to do so would result in the suspension of retail licences,” the agency stated.
Earlier, on July 27, NNPC Limited spokesperson Olufemi Soneye explained that the fuel scarcity in Abuja and Lagos was due to a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels. “The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT is a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” Soneye said.
He assured that the company was working tirelessly with all stakeholders to resolve the issue and restore normal operations. The NNPC had also mentioned that bad weather and flooding of truck routes had contributed to the fuel crisis, complicating the movement of petrol from coastal areas to the Federal Capital, Abuja.
Despite these assurances, petrol scarcity continues to persist in many northern states, leaving residents frustrated and in need of a solution.
