BY: News Peddlers
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The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has assured Nigerians that it is taking steps to end the country's lingering fuel scarcity.
Its Acting State Coordinator in Katsina, Engr. Abdullahi Musa-Mohammed, assured the News Agency of Nigeria in Katsina on Wednesday.
He stated that the fuel shortage began as a result of flooding that destroyed some roads connecting Southern Nigeria, from which products are transported to other parts of the country.
"Everyone is aware of the situation, and the long lines at gas stations all began as a result of flooding." The trucks travel for about a week to their destinations.
"You know, the petrol supply chain is something that shows when there is a delay in the supply chain, even if it is one, two, or three days."
"The consequences of that will be felt for some time, which is why we are still dealing with the situation."
"It is our responsibility as the Federal Government to ensure that the products allocated to filling stations from depots arrive at the stations on time."
"We receive manifests from deports on a daily basis and monitor them to ensure that petroleum products are not diverted."
"We also follow the trucks to ensure that the products are discharged in the correct quantity," he explained.
Musa-Mohammed revealed that once a case of diversion is established, the station is sealed and the owner is fined N500 per litre of diverted gasoline.
"On occasion, they complain that the truck developed mechanical problems on the way. In such cases, "we first give them what we call a demand for explanation, and they give their explanations, but we know that not all of them are true," he explained.
He went on to say that if they question some of the marketers about the price difference, they "start telling stories, blaming it on expenses they incurred in the process of transporting the fuel."
According to him, they have been working hard to eliminate these queues and will continue to do so by monitoring the products up to filling stations.
"By doing so, we believe that these lines will soon vanish."
"As a result, I am urging people to follow the law and avoid going to filling stations with jerri-cans to buy fuel."
"People should be assured that this thing will be over very soon," he said.
NAN