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Tag: Fuel

  • Our members not buying petrol at N172 per litre – IPMAN

    Our members not buying petrol at N172 per litre – IPMAN

    Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), on Friday, said that its members were not buying petrol at N172 per litre, as being insinuated.

    IPMAN’s Chairman, Western Zone, Alhaji Dele Tajudeen, stated this in an interview with NAN in Ibadan.

    Tajudeen described the report being circulated that IPMAN members were buying petrol for N172 per litre as misleading, far from the truth and capable of inciting the public against them.

    According to him, it is only the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that is making arrangements for IPMAN members to lift petrol at the official price.

    He said that the new pricing arrangement had yet to materialise.

    “We are still expecting the arrangements being made by NNPCL for independent marketers to lift fuel at N172 so that we also can sell at N195 per litre which is the official price.

    “The report that emanated from some online media that members of the association have commenced lifting of petrol from the Ijegun-Egba tank farm in Lagos at ex-depot price of N172 per litre is not true.

    “The report, if not quickly debunked, is capable of inciting members of the public against IPMAN members. It is misleading and far from the truth.

    “We are committed to serving the Nigerian masses in truth and fairness, without taking advantage of them.

    “While waiting for the government’s agency in charge of petroleum products to come up with its arrangement for independent marketers, we will continue to serve Nigerians in truth,” Tajudeen said.

  • NLC seeks end to fuel importation policy – Wabba

    NLC seeks end to fuel importation policy – Wabba

    The outgoing President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has said that the organised labour is seeking an end to the nation’s fuel importation policy as it will lead to a reduction in the prices of fuel.

    Wabba gave the hint on Tuesday in Abuja at the congress’s 13th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference.

    The theme of the conference is ”Building People’s Power, National Unity and Quest For A New Social Contract”.

    According to him, rather than seek a reduction in the prices of fuel, labour will seek a policy change.

    “The policy of importation was imposed on Nigerians in 2003 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and that is why the price model of products is based on importation,” he said.

    Wabba said that the Federal Government could remove the subsidy on petroleum products when it starts refining locally.

    “Refining locally will eradicate subsidy and corruption in the entire industry.

    “When we refine petroleum in Nigeria, it will create job opportunities for the people. We can organise youths in clusters and give them jobs and by so doing, 50 per cent of the problem is solved,” he said.

    The NLC president noted that oil was God’s gift to Nigeria and hence it should impact on the economy positively.

    “It is sad that people queue endlessly at the banks to access money and at filling stations to buy fuel.

    “Nigerians have been pushed to the wall concerning getting their money in the bank and buying fuel at filling stations; if the issue is not addressed within the shortest possible time, nobody can predict what can happen,” he said.

    On tax, the labour leader said that the government should prioritise tax to be self-reliant.

    “Correct tax payment will enable the country to remain a solid state because we have opened our borders and we have all manners of textile materials coming in.

    “In fact, this is the reason why the textile industry is going down,” he said.

    Wabba, however, pointed out that irregular power supply was a major factor affecting textile companies as the few existing one could no longer pay the exorbitant rates.

    On Public Service, he called for 100 per cent review of workers salaries, different from minimum wage increase.

    He said that salary review was implemented for political office holders in 2008, therefore, a boost in the salaries of workers would enhance productivity.

    He advised the Federal Government against privatising the health and education sectors as these were the fundamental rights of every citizen.

    “In some regions, 20 million children are already out of school, so, if education or health is privatised, people will not receive quality healthcare service and education,” he said.

    On security, the outgoing NLC president appealed to the government to do everything possible to address the challenge.

    He recalled that the late Musa Lawal, the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), was among those killed in the Kaduna train attack as a result of insecurity.

    Wabba, who was elected president from the health union in 2015, thanked the workers for their support, adding that in his 35 years as a labour activist, he contested 13 elective positions and won all.

  • Good news for Nigerians as Ijegun-Egba Tankfarm Owners and Operators to sell petrol N172 per litre

    Good news for Nigerians as Ijegun-Egba Tankfarm Owners and Operators to sell petrol N172 per litre

    …to begin distribution on Monday

    In a bid to check the lingering petrol scarcity through adequate distribution of the product nationwide, the Ijegun-Egba Tankfarm Owners and Operators Association has resolved to sell Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) to marketers at ex depot price of N172 per litre.

    The association said it was working hand-in-hand with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to achieve an uninterrupted distribution of 127 million litres of petrol across the country beginning from Monday (February 6).

    It said the 127 million litres represented the stock of PMS either already receipted or expected for the month of February by six members of the association, namely AA Rano, EMADEB, First Royal, Shell Plux, Chippet and RainOil.

    Rising from a crucial meeting that dwelled on distribution of petroleum product across the nation on Friday with a six-point resolution contained in a communique, signed by its Chairman, Mr Adebowale Olujimi, the association assured all its esteemed customers and Nigerians of its utmost transparency and commitment in its dealings in rising to what it described as a national call to ensure efficient petroleum product distribution and energy security in line with the Federal Government’s policies and regulations.

    The communique quoted the association to have said: “We wish to categorically state that all Tankfarms in Ijegun are committed to working with the Federal and State governments, Agencies of government in addressing the petroleum distribution challenges currently experienced in the Nation and to utilize our storage networks to supply and distribute petroleum products to various part of the country to ensure that Nigerians have Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) for their daily operations. We are also committed to maintaining our transparency in this respect.

    “We consider ourselves as an integral part of petroleum product supply chain in ensuring product supply, energy stability and energy security. We have played and will continue to play significant roles in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the nation.

    “The Tankfarms at Ijegun, Satellite Town, Lagos State play a very pivotal part in petroleum distribution in Nigeria, accounting for approximately 35% national petroleum product distribution.

    “Our members are committed to ensuring efficient petroleum product distribution, and by extension ensuring energy security in line with the Federal Government’s policies and regulations. Our member companies have contributed immensely in ensuring energy stability and energy security in the Nation, and have always risen to the occasion, at all times, in ensuring efficient supply and distribution of petroleum products to avoid scarcity of products. Hence our response to the present national call, in view of the challenges experienced across the Nation.”

    The association stated further that “having considered the current challenges in petroleum product distribution, resulting in scarcity across the Nation, with attendant impact on the national economy, business and commercial activities, Ijegun Tankfarms have resolved as follows:

    “That, with the expected estimated 126 million litres of PMS for our facilities in the month of February 2023, all our members will strive to ensure that the products are loaded and trucked without delay on receipt and discharge into our facilities. This will make the product available for Nigerians.

    “That our Tankfarms will continue to sell and load at the government regulated price of N172 Ex Depot to all marketers.

    “That all our members retail outlets across the Nation will continue to sell petroleum products at the government approved price.

    “That commencing from Monday, 6th February, 2023 we welcome all our esteemed marketers, in line with the Protocols set by the Federal Government. The Protocols must be strictly complied for transparency and accountability.

    “That we will work 24 hours to achieve the objective to making petroleum products, especially PMS available to Nigerians across the Nation.

    “To underscore our utmost transparency to Nigerians, we post hereby and make public our receipts and or expected receipts of PMS for the month of February, 2023 as indicated (in the table displayed at the top as illustrative image).”

    The association added: “We wish to assure all our esteemed customers and Nigerians of our utmost transparency and commitment in our dealings in rising to this National Call.”

    It added: “We wish to express our deep appreciation to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, for His Excellency’s immense actions in improving the state of infrastructure and maintaining a good business environment, especially the interventions to ensure that we have smooth access to evacuate petroleum products to address the challenges currently experienced in the Nation. We wish to restate our sincere commitment to making products available to Nigerians.”

    “The Tankfarms in Ijegun, Satellite Town, Lagos State will continue to contribute immensely to National economy, energy security and play its significant roles in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the nation to ameliorate adverse effects the current challenges have on business and commercial activities,” the association resolved at the meeting.

    It also restated its members’ commitment to continue to contribute to government’s effort in building a robust business environment to stimulate economic growth, especially in making Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise referred to as petrol available to Nigerians across the Nation.

    The association is an umbrella organization of all the oil companies currently engaged in the operation of petroleum storage tankfarms and facilities at Ijegun – Egba, Satellite Town, Lagos, along the Ojo Creek Channel, to wit: A.A. RANO Nigeria Limited, JGold Nigeria Limited, Chipet International Limited, Emadeb Energy Services Limited, First Royal Oil Nigeria Limited, MAO Petroleum Company Limited, Menj Oil Limited, Ocean Pride Energy Services Limited, Stallionaire Nigeria Limited, Wosbab Energy Solutions Limited and Rainoil Limited.

  • PENGASSAN urges FG to revoke licence of oil marketers selling above approved price

    PENGASSAN urges FG to revoke licence of oil marketers selling above approved price

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has urged the Federal Government to revoke licences of oil marketers selling above approved pump price of Premuim Motor Spirit (PMS).

    PENGASSAN said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) should immediately mobilise its staff in various locations nationwide to monitor compliance and anyone found wanting, should have their licences revoked to serve as a deterrent.

    PENGASSAN, in a statement on Monday by its National President, Mr Festus Osifo, said the call for the revocation of licences became urgent, following  persistent scarcity of PMS in the last six months.

    “Should this collusion go on unchecked, we will not hesitate to partner with other stakeholders in ensuring that Nigerians are not further exploited. A stitch in time saves nine,” he said.

    Osifo, while empathising with Nigerians on the hardship currently faced with the scarcity and drastic hike in PMS price, decried that one litre of PMS is being sold between N185 to N650, depending on the location and outlet.

    “While we understand that the parameters imputed into the old PPPRA and now NMDPRA template has since changed because of some economic vagaries such as exchange rate fluctuation, vessel hiring cost and cost of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) amongst others.

    “There is no sufficient justification for PMS to be selling for such highly inflated price, thereby subjecting the masses to further difficulties.

    “Even though we have some good marketers who tend to play by the rules, others who are overbearing have deployed methods of creating artificial scarcities to hike the price of the product uncontrollably.

    “From data available to us from our members, there is over 30 days PMS sufficiency in the country; hence there is no basis for the current scarcity and hardship that Nigerians are being subjected to,” he said.

    He said the national leadership of PENGASSAN had been following up with its members in NNPC Trading Limited who were responsible for assigning the products to marketers.

    He said it has been following its teaming members from NMDPRA in various depots and terminals across the country on the need to carry out their functions expeditiously.

    He said these members were responsible for issuing cargo clearance, monitoring compliance, routing inspection, metering calibration/maintenance, accurate delivery to trucks and record keeping, among others.

  • Fuel pump price increased to N185 per litre

    Fuel pump price increased to N185 per litre

    There is no respite for Lagos residents over the lingering fuel scarcity as Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has increased the price of petrol to N185 per litre without official notification.

    Fuel scarcity persisted on Friday as long queues disrupted traffic flow resulting to gridlocks across the Lagos metropolis.

    Some of the stations visited like Mobil, Conoil, TotalEnergies, Nipco, Enyo, Forte and NORTH-WEST had adjusted their pump price to reflect N185 per litre against N169 previously.

    Motorists in Lagos who queued for several hours at filling stations operated by major marketers were shocked to notice the adjustment of the pump price.

    Many major filling stations in Lagos metropolis, especially Ikeja and Agege areas were not dispensing, only a few stations were dispensing while motorists scrambled to fill their cars.

    The stations dispensing at Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Grammar School, Berger were NNPCL station and Bovas along Ogunnusi/Isheri road.

    Also, Mobil filling station at Agidingbi-Ikeja started selling with queues extending to Fela Shrine from Ashabi Cole Crescent/CIPM Avenue road.

    It was observed that some independent filling stations were selling between N260 and N270 per litre along Ikorodu, Somolu, Bariga, Ikotun and Akran, Awolowo road.

    Some marketers who preferred anonymity told NAN that the federal government had begun the subsidy withdrawal, urging marketers to adjust their pump price.

    The marketers claimed that government may have commenced a gradual removal of the petrol subsidy.

    However, efforts to get reactions from MOMAN and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) was unsuccessful as key marketers’ associations were still considering an appropriate pump price.

    A source who declined to be mentioned said, “Marketers have been officially directed to change the pump price of petrol.

    “Go to stations operated by major marketers you will confirm what I have told you.

    “But I think it shouldn’t be above N185 a litre. I can tell you too that depot owners are not expected to raise their prices but they have been asked to recover their costs by adjusting their prices.”

    The cost of fuel pump increased from N87 per litre as of December 2015 to N165.77 by December 2021, which is an increase of 90.54 per cent, according to the Fuel Pump Price Per Litre – Average (PMS) data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Mr Mike Osatuyi, the National Operations Controller of IPMAN, said his members were still waiting for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) to fulfill its part of the agreement reached at the meeting by supplying them fuel directly instead of the present arrangement where they had to buy from a “third party.”

    Osatuyi regretted that despite the change of leadership at the NNPCL retail arm, the situation had remained the same.

    “We reached an agreement with NNPCL for direct fuel supply since last month, but up till now, we are yet to get the supply.

    “We are still buying from private depots who sell the product to us at N230 per litre and by the time it reaches our stations it is at N250 per litre.

    “So, we cannot sell at government regulated price because we don’t even get it at regulated price,” he explained.

    According to Osatuyi, supply issues are yet to be resolved and that is why the major marketers are not selling regularly.

    Besides, Osatuyi said some of the filling stations selling at the regulated price of N180 per litre were only putting up an appearance in the public, whereas behind the scene, from their depots, they sold the commodity to private marketers at N220 per litre.

    “That is why some of them don’t have fuel to sell in their stations as they would have made more money selling to the independent marketers at a higher price,” he said.

    He regretted the situation IPMAN found itself because its members were not comfortable selling fuel at N250 or more per litre, but that their hands were tied as they could not run at a loss.

    “Even some of our members are wondering if we have compromised on this issue because they cannot believe that by now NNPCL would not have started selling fuel to us at the official price as agreed in that meeting,” he said.

    Osatuyi has assured that the group will confirm to Nigerians when NNPCL starts dispensing fuel to its members at the official price and Nigerians should expect reduced price of PMS if NNPCL fulfills its promise of direct supply to his members.

    “This is what we have been clamouring for because IPMAN has been buying petrol for N220 from private depots in this period.

    “Whereas NNPCL supplies the product to depots at N113 per litre, while depots sell at N148.17 per litre and filling stations sell at the regulated price of N170 to N180 per litre.

    “Instead of selling to IPMAN at the approved N148.17 per litre, as they used to do before, private depots were selling to us at N220 per litre, so how could we have sold to the public at N170 per litre?” Osatuyi asked..

    Mr Clement Isong, the Executive Secretary of MOMAN refused to answer questions on the pump price increase.

    Isong said despite the volume that the NNPCL was supplying, the demand for the product kept rising, suggesting there was increase in demand from states.

    On why the demand for petrol is high, he said, “I don’t know but I suspect that it is cross-border demand that has gone up.”

    Efforts to get the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and NNPCL to comment proved abortive as both refused to pick their calls and respond to messages.

  • NMDPRA addresses report on increase in fuel pump price by FG

    NMDPRA addresses report on increase in fuel pump price by FG

    The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says the Federal Government has no intention of increasing the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during the festive period.

    The General Manager, Corporate Communications, NMDPRA, Mr. Kimchi Apollo said this through an advisory which addressed speculations on the increase in price and availability of PMS.

    He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) had imported PMS with current stock levels sufficient for 34 days.

    “Consequently, marketers and the general public are advised to avoid panic buying, diversion of products and hoarding.

    “In keeping with the Authority’s responsibilities as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Authority assures the public that it would continue to monitor the supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide, especially during this holiday season,” he said.

  • NPA under fire for hiding volume of daily fuel consumption

    NPA under fire for hiding volume of daily fuel consumption

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) came under fire on Wednesday when its Executive Director, Marine and Operation, Mr Onari Brown and some officials of the NPA appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the volume of fuel consumed daily in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the NPA came under fire after failing to disclose the volume of fuel consumed daily in the country, with the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Rep. Abdulkadiri Abdullahi saying it was a deliberate attempt.

    Querying the exclusion of the volume of fuel consumed daily in a report presented by the NPA, Abdullahi also disclosed that it will inspect oil vessels seized by the Nigerian Navy that are at the NPA due to the discrepancies in the number of seized oil vessels by the authority.

    He said the NPA needed to include the date and the time the vessel arrived, stressing that the committee would get a suitable date for an oversight.

    “We will pick up a time to do an oversight for this because we see discrepancies in what NPA is saying. If all the vessels arrested are being brought to you, we need to identify and see them, the Nigeria Navy told us that all seized vessels are dropped in your premises,” Abdullahi said.

    He urged the  NPA to rearrange its presentation and include payment of charges it got quarterly and the  volume.

    Abdullahi explained that the committee had given the NPA until Oct. 17 to reappear before it for further investigation, while urging the NPA to come with all records of payment to the NNPC.

    Earlier, Brown said he would not in anyway hide information from the committee, adding:  ” I will never in any way disrespect this house. I was once a member and I know the implication of hiding information.”

    He said not showing the record of fuel consumed daily in the document presented was an error and it would be corrected, stressing that no imported products came to the country without the knowledge of NPA.

    “For imported product, there is no way a ship will come and we will not know. Only NNPC brings fuel to Nigeria as far as NPA is concerned. We do not  recognise any other person and we do not deal with any other,” he said.

    Also, the Ministry of Petroleum decried the lack of synergy among agencies under the ministry.

    Mr Mohammed Mohammed, Director Downstream, said the problem of synergy was that the ministry did not get most of the information it needed from the agencies.

    He said it was always difficult to interface with the agencies, adding that the ministry had not received updates on all the issues raised for it to be able to study them, including the mainstream.

    “Maybe, the National Assembly will use its position to stress  on synergy. I do not have the information of how much we are consuming, I am just a new person,” Mohammed said.

    The committee, however, asked the ministry of petroleum to put its grievances down in writing.

    The chairman of the committee recalled that the  permanent secretary at the ministry was believed to have owned up that the country consumed 38 million liters daily.

    Abdullahi asked the ministry to appear before the committee again on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. for further investigations.

  • Marketer says realistic cost of petrol is N200 per litre

    Marketer says realistic cost of petrol is N200 per litre

    An independent petroleum products marketer, Mr Mike Osatuyi has said the only realistic pump price of petrol is between N200 and N210 per litre.

    He disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos while stressing that Federal Government’s pricing template that fixed pump price at N169 per litre is grossly unrealistic when the landing cost of the fuel at the station is N194 per litre.

    “I buy petrol at N186.50k per litre from the depot and it costs me about N9.50k to get the same litre to the pump after paying levies.

    “How do you want me to sell at N169 per litre when I have incurred additional costs? No marketer can sell petrol at the regulated price of N169 per litre with the current realities when landing cost is N196 per litre.

    “Those saddled with the responsibility of petroleum importation and pricing should be held responsible for the price disparities at the fuel stations.

    “The current price of petrol does not reflect inflation, Foreign Exchange costs, union dues and transportation,’’ Osatuyi, National Operations Controller of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said.

    He stressed that government’s pricing template did not address current realities and pricing indices.

    “We should have a current template that will reflect current realities in petrol business pending the time that government would deregulate the sector fully.

    “There are some cost fundamentals, additional charges, and levies that are not factored into the template currently in use,’’ he noted.

    Osatuyi further disclosed that government should open up on petrol landing costs and the realistic price at the pumps.

    He stressed that a total deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry remained the best option.

    According to him, total deregulation remains the solution to address challenges in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry as it will allow interested investors to import freely.

    “Total deregulation remains the best solution to ending fuel scarcity.

    “The cost implication of total deregulation will make the price of petrol too expensive for Nigerians, but it will shift the burden from the government to end users,’’ he said.

    A correspondent who monitored fuel stations in Lagos reports that majority of fuel stations belonging to independent marketers sold petrol at between N180 and N200 per litre.

    Major marketers selling at the official pump price of N169 per litre had long queues, the correspondent reported.

  • Don’t panic, NMDPRA gives update on fuel scarcity

    Don’t panic, NMDPRA gives update on fuel scarcity

    The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has appealed to Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petrol, saying it has enough in stock.

    Mr. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer, NMDPRA confirmed to NAN in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Ahmed said he had checked with the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) on the level of fuel stock and confirmed that they had sufficient stock.

    “l spoke with the MOMAN’S Executive Secretary this morning and he told me they have sufficient stock.

    “I have directed them to start evacuating the product immediately to filling stations.

    “NNPC has also confirmed sufficiency and they have commenced evacuation.

    “From now till tomorrow the situation will be back to normal.

    “I don’t know what is happening but we are on top of the situation,” he said.

    Ahmed assured that there was enough fuel and, therefore, appealed to members of the public to avoid panic buying as all efforts were being made to resolve shortage in some filling stations in Lagos and its environs.

    The National Operations Controller of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr Mike Osatuyi, attributed the scarcity to unsteady supply in the past few days.

    Osatuyi told NAN that as a result of the unsteady supply, depots prices had risen from N165 to N177 and N178 per litre in Apapa and its environs.

    “The marketers will only sell what they buy. If the price of petrol increases, we add our transportation cost and other charges to the selling price,” he said.

    He appealed to NNPC and NMDPRA to supply enough petrol across the country to ease scarcity.

    Queues are beginning to build in some filling stations in Maryland, Onipan, Ikoyi, and Victoria Island.

  • Fuel price increase not from government – Sylva

    Fuel price increase not from government – Sylva

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has disclosed that the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as fuel, is not by the government.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Sylva, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Monday in Abuja, stressed that the federal government was yet to remove subsidies on fuel.

    The minister spoke on the sidelines of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) stakeholders’ consultation forum on regulations.

    The forum was organised by the authority to consider and review the midstream and downstream petroleum regulations to bequeath the industry with laws and policies to enable needed investment in the sector.

    Sylva was reacting to the increase in pump price of petroleum by marketers from N165 per litre to N169, N184 and N218 per litre depending on the area in Abuja and other states.

    “I can tell you authoritatively, we have not deregulated. The government is still subsidising petrol prices. If there are increases in price, it is not from the government.

    “It is probably from the marketers but of course, I will talk to the authority to ensure that they actually regulate the price. This is not from the government, we have not deregulated.

    “But a lot is going on to ensure that the queues end. As of yesterday, I noticed that the queues in Abuja are easing off,” the minister said.

    Recall that there was fuel scarcity recently in Abuja and several other cities across the country. Although the crisis in Abuja began in 2021 after the government announced plans to remove fuel subsidy, a major shortage hit major cities including Lagos in February.

    This led to queues at filling stations and left millions unable to power their cars and generators they rely on for electricity. The discovery of high amounts of methanol in imported fuel also contributed to the scarcity then, as authorities tried to replace the off-spec product across the country.

    The crisis lingered for months in spite of the Federal Government’s assurance that it had sufficient stock of petroleum products for distribution. The scarcity continued in Abuja “on and off”, while black market sales thrived.

    The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) had earlier disclosed that high cost of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) used by petroleum tankers and low freight rate were responsible for the current fuel scarcity in the FCT.

    The Federal Government had since increased the freight rate of transporters by N10 which was a huge jump from N10.46 to an additional N10 and now N20.46.