Adverse Weather Conditions Blamed For Fuel Shortage, Says NNPC

Adverse Weather Conditions Blamed For Fuel Shortage, Says NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (NNPCL) has provided an explanation for the recent resurgence of fuel scarcity across the nation.

During a press conference on Tuesday, August 20, held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, NNPCL’s Vice President of Downstream, Dapo Segun, addressed the issue. He attributed the fuel scarcity, which has led to long queues at filling stations nationwide, to the impact of recent adverse weather conditions, including heavy rains, lightning, and thunderstorms.

Segun acknowledged the widespread inconvenience caused by the fuel queues, which have forced motorists to endure long wait times and spurred a rise in black market activity, with fuel prices exceeding N1,000 per litre in some areas.

He expressed apologies to Nigerians for the disruption, explaining that while the NNPCL does not intend to make excuses, the adverse weather conditions affecting fuel distribution are beyond the corporation’s control.

“We apologize to Nigerians for the fuel queues. Many of the challenges we’re facing are outside our control, but we’re doing our best to address them,” Segun stated.

He further explained that the recent rains have caused siltation in the Estragos channel, making it difficult to navigate and significantly hindering the transportation of petroleum products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), across the country. Additionally, he noted that lightning and thunderstorms have forced the suspension of fuel discharges both onshore and from tankers, complicating the distribution process further. Road network issues have also posed challenges in transporting fuel to different regions.

Despite these challenges, Segun emphasized that the supply issues observed in Lagos have been addressed, with vessels currently offloading fuel in the city. He reassured the public that the NNPCL is committed to ensuring the continuous distribution of petroleum products nationwide, despite the obstacles.