Fuel Queues: NNPCL Warns Against Panic Buying

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said it has noted the appearance of fuel queues in some parts of Lagos and a few other locations around the country, warning against panic buying of the product.

The retail management of the NNPCL, in a statement on Thursday, said the queues were due to reduced Depot loadout in Apapa, Lagos State over a few days.

It added that the root cause of the queues has since been addressed.

“We assure all Nigerians that there is ample supply with sufficiency of at least 30 days,” the statement said.

The NNPC, however, advised motorists to desist from panic buying as distribution will normalise over the next couple of days.

“NNPC Retail Ltd. notes the appearance of fuel queues in some parts of Lagos and a few other locations around the country. This is due to reduced Depot loadout in Apapa, Lagos over a few days, and the root cause has since been addressed.

“We assure all Nigerians that there is ample supply with sufficiency of at least 30 days. Motorists are advised to desist from panic buying as distribution will normalise over the next couple of days,” the company said in a statement signed by management.

The last notable queues at petrol stations happened in May after President Bola Tinubu announced an end to fuel subsidy during his inauguration.

Tinubu had said the 2023 budget made no provision for fuel subsidy and more so, subsidy payment was no longer justifiable.

The announcement had led to scarcity of petroleum products, resulting in long queues at petrol stations across the country, with a litre of petrol rising from N184 per litre in Lagos to over N500.