The Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, Nigeria seat of power is facing acute shortage of premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol.
Though , the city has been experiencing fuel shortafes since the beginning of this year ,the intensity increased this week with several filling stations not having fuel to sell and the few that has stock played host to long queues of motorists desperate for the scarce products.
At A.A Rano along airport road, Bannex- Gwarinpa Expressway, NIPCO along Barnex-Gwrainpa Expressway, Total and Conoil opposite NNPCL headquarters in Central Business area, the story is the same.
However hawkers of pms in Jerry Can are having a field day with Motorists that can not withstand the rigour of long queues.
Most filling stations sell for N195 per lite while the hawkers along major routes in Abuja were selling for between N3,500 to N4,000 per Jerry can of 10 litres.
Oil industry regulator, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDORA) last Sunday blamed the scarcity experienced in Abuja and elsewhere in the country to restriction of movements during the February 25th ,2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections .
NMDPRA, in a statement made available to Platforms Africa, noted that the restrictions of movement necessitated truck drivers to travel to exercise their civic duty.
Stating that it would keep striving towards guaranteeing adequate supply and distribution reliability nationwide and strongly advises against panic buying.
NMDPRA statement Reads:-
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority
(NMDPRA) assures Nigerians that operations in loading depots have fully
resumed following the restriction of movements during the recently concluded
Presidential and National Assembly elections which necessitated truck drivers
to travel to exercise their civic duty.
Consequently, the NMDPRA is working with other Stakeholders to mitigate the
slight fightness being experienced in the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit
(PMS).
Most importantly, the public is invited to note that the current stock sufficiency
stands at 35.39 days for PMS, 34.86 days for AGO and 31.36 days for ATK.
The Authority continues to strive towards guaranteeing supply and distribution
reliability nationwide and strongly advises against panic buying.