The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and some northern states have started experiencing petrol (PMS) scarcity.
Motorists on Monday were in long qeue in some petrol stations in the nation’s capital, according to investigation.
Some filling station managers, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, attributed the development to perceived scarcity of petrol in the country, which they said have to panic buying of the commodity.
Also, fuel prices have increased between N200 and N300 per litre in Kano and Katsina States.
Youths were said to be taking an advantage of the situation and therefore selling fuel in jerry cans at skyrocketing prices.
Most petroleum marketers in Katsina State reportedly closed down their filling stations as the news of fuel scarcity began to spread on Monday morning.
A report by the Nigerian Tribune shows that only a few petrol stations along Murtala Muhammad Way were sighted selling fuel while other stations in the metropolis were said to be under lock and key.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) in a statement, was quoted to described the situation as “mild fuel queues in Abuja likely due to low loadouts at depots which usually happen during long public holidays, in this case, the Sallah celebrations.
“Another contributing factor to the sudden appearances of queues is the increased fuel purchases which are also usual with returning residents of the FCT from the public holidays.
“We are assuring all residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and indeed all Nigerians, that we have ample local supplies and national stock in excess of 2.5 billion litres, with a sufficiency of more than 43 days.
“So, we advise motorists not to engage in panic buying as supplies are adequate as will become increasingly evident in the coming days.”
