The Nigerian government stated that cross-border traffickers are to blame for the current fuel shortage, claiming that they divert PMS intended for the Nigerian market.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced this in a statement on Friday.
They assured that Nigeria has more than 1.6 billion liters of PMS as of January 26th, 2023.
According to the NMDPRA, smugglers divert PMS intended for the Nigerian market, contributing to scarcity.
They also stated that discussions with the Nigerian Customs Service have begun to remedy the issues.
The energy regulator also stated that Nigeria currently has enough PMS capacity to meet demand.
They also blamed the Russian invasion of Ukraine for the pricing differential between Nigeria and West African countries.
The agency stated that it is collaborating with NNPC to address specific measures such as product sales interface automation, rehabilitation of critical fuel distribution road network, and minor adjustments in product transportation costs to account for the impact of high diesel prices on transporters.
