The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN has indicated that the ongoing scarcity of petrol in Nigeria, which has affected several states, may continue for an additional two weeks.
According to Chinedu Ukadike, the association’s Public Relations Officer, the unavailability of the product is primarily due to challenges in sourcing it, as many refineries in Europe are currently undergoing maintenance.
“Once there is a breach in the international supply chain, it will have an impact on domestic supply because we depend on imports.
“I also have it on good authority that most of the refineries in Europe are undergoing turnaround maintenance, so sourcing petroleum products has become a bit difficult.
“NNPC Group CEO has assured us that there will be improvement in the supply chain because their vessels are arriving.
“Once that is done, normalcy will return. This is because once the 30-day supply sufficiency is disrupted, it takes two to three months to restore it”, he said.
Ukadike also attributed the severe shortage of petrol to challenges in the importation process and the slow pace of license renewal by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The situation has led to transportation disruptions in various cities, including Abuja and Lagos. Several fuel stations have either closed down or been accused of hoarding petrol, resulting in long queues at stations that are still operational.
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