Fuel shortage: Situation in Abuja persists
The Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT) which hitherto enjoyed a fair supply of petrol appears to have joined other parts of the country suffering acute shortage.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent reports that long queues of vehicles have become a regular feature at most filling stations in Abuja and environs in the last three weeks.
The situation had refused to improve in spite of the threat to apply appropriate sanctions on marketers involved in sharp practices by the NNPC.
The General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Dr Levi Ajuonuma, said the NNPC would not hesitate to sanction any marketer, major or independent, involved in product hoarding and or diversion.
He said the current fuel shortage in the country might not be unconnected with the unpatriotic and undesirable desire of marketers to reap high profit at the expense of consumers.
Ajuonuma said that it was unfortunate that fuel shortage was being recorded at this point in time and insisted that the NNPC had adequate stock to meet consumers needs.
The GM said that the NNPC remained focussed and committed to eliminating sharp practices within the system to ensure efficiency and uninterrupted supply and distribution of petroleum products.
He said the NNPC would continue to importproducts to supplement local production as well as to beef up its 21-day stock in its efforts to improve the situation.
A cross section of motorists who spoke to NAN expressed disappointment about the ``true position of things'' as regards the supply and distribution of fuel.
Some said that the situation had worsened forcing them to stay over night at stations waiting to buy the product.
Shortage of fuel and pump price increases had been a thorny issue in Nigeria in recent years.