Yemisi Izuora
The Products Petroleum and Marketing Company (PPMC) has re-assured Nigerians that the fuel scarcity will strategically come to an end soon in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna and other cities in the country.
Speaking during a media parley, which had representatives of major oil marketers in attendance in Lagos, the Executive Director, Supply and Distribution, PPMC, Mr Justin Ezeale, said the development became necessary in order to solve the problems in badly affected areas in the country.
He said the government was aware of the problems arising from distribution of fuel in the country, hence its decision to employ proactive measures on the issue.
He disclosed that seven cargoes of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) arrived the country for onward distribution to various parts of the country.
He said 294 trucks of fuel was distributed in Lagos on Tuesday, while another 336 trucks of fuel would be supply wednesday, adding that Abuja has gotten its own supplies as well.
According to him, The Federal Government has embarked on massive importation of fuel in order to end the lingering fuel scarcity. As at today, seven cargoes of fuel has arrived the country for distribution to major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and others. We have taking into cognizance that the country consumes 40milliion litres of fuel daily, and we would ensure that fuel supply goes round the country.
‘’ PPMC meets with major marketers and representatives of the Federal Government everyday since the fuel crisis started few weeks ago. The government is feeling the pains going through by Nigerians, hence the decision to meet regularly with stakeholders in the value chain in order to strategies on the issue of ending the fuel problems,’’ he said.
Speaking further, he said the government is engaging the services of members of Nigerian and Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) to monitor the supply of fuel from depots to the filing stations, stressing that the decision was borne out of the need to stop diversion of petroleum products in Nigeria.
Ezeale said the police has been helpful in this regard, stressing that members of civil defence corps were drafted into the issue to compliment the efforts of the police.
He said selling of fuel above official price, by some marketers, was wrong, and that PPMC and the Department of Petroleum Resources(DPR) have sent their officials to various parts to monitor and sanctions erring marketers