Marketers reveal cause of fuel queues

The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, MEMAN, has reveal that adverse weather and thunderstorms that delayed ship-to-ship trans-loading of fuel among others caused fuel scarcity in Lagos, Abuja and in other major parts of the country.

The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clement Isong disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on Sunday, saying, they urged Nigerians not to engage in panic buying, assuring that the situation will change soon.

Isong said, the trans-loading challenge caused the shortfall that occasioned fuel scarcity in filling stations.
According to him, there were challenges in berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, which resulted in disruption in station supply logistics.

He noted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had also warned that the loading of petrol should be avoided during rainstorms and lightning.

Isong stated that petroleum products were flammable and required transportation, dispensation, consumption, and storage in strictly controlled and regulated manners.

The MEMAN official said: “Any deviation from these regulations poses significant danger and risks, including fatalities.

“We wish to reiterate that there is no cause for alarm. We strongly urge Nigerians to avoid panic buying or stockpiling of petrol.

“This behaviour not only creates artificial scarcity but also poses a significant safety hazard.”
He added that the delay in loading petroleum products at depots due to storms contributed to the shortfall of stocks in filling stations.

Isong stated: “Many trucks could not load product for over 48 hours during the storm.

“Now that the weather is clear, marketers have begun loading and all trucks have commenced distribution of fuel to all stations across the country.

“We want to assure Nigerians that there is no scarcity, and they should not stock petrol at home.”
Queues for petrol recently resurfaced in parts of Lagos, with fuel stations packed with vehicles waiting to fill their tanks.