Because the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) stopped transporting the product out of concern for possible violence during the presidential election, there was once again a shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS, or gasoline) in the Federal Capital Territory over the weekend.
On February 25, nationwide voting for president took place. The results were made public on March 1.
Petrol was not bridged to the northern regions of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, between that time and March 3. (FCT).
Mr. Clement Isong, the executive secretary of MOMAN, told The Nation over the phone over the weekend that logistics rather than the price was to blame for the shortage.
The MOMAN boss said that there were depots in Lagos where petroleum was accessible, but emphasized that because drivers had started loading on Friday, it would take four days for them to reach the FCT and other northern markets.
Moreover, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, the National Vice President of IPMAN, acknowledged that marketers were concerned about crises during the presidential election.
He explained that since there had been no major crisis following the election, the group had told its members to begin loading the merchandise.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) yesterday blamed the latest petrol shortage on restrictions placed on travel during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The agency reassured Nigerians that loading depot operations had fully resumed in a statement issued by its Chief Executive Officer in Abuja. Farouk Ahmed.
Truck drivers had to travel to fulfill their civic obligation to vote in the presidential and National Assembly elections since they registered in different regions of the nation.
The modest tightness in the distribution of gasoline, according to Ahmed, was being addressed by the NMDPRA in collaboration with other stakeholders.
According to the head of the agency, the present stock sufficiency for PMS is 35.39 days, for Automotive Gas Oil (AGO, diesel), it is 34.86 days, and for Aviation Turbine Kerosene it is 31.36 days (ATK).
He gave Nigerians the reassurance that the agency will keep working to ensure reliable supply and distribution across the country and discouraged panic buying.
