The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has clarified the cause behind extended queues at certain filling stations in Lagos State, attributing the situation to a transient distribution issue.
Reports initially highlighted lengthy lines at petrol stations in Lagos on Monday, sparking concerns about a potential fuel scarcity.
Notably, the queues were evident along the Ikorodu Road, including the Total Filling Station at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, causing traffic congestion around Ikeja.
Observations revealed several filling stations along the Ikeja axis, through Obafemi Awolowo Road in Ikeja, were closed.
Additionally, those along Ogunnusi Road, inbound Berger, reportedly did not sell petrol.
NNPCL spokesperson, Femi Soneye, reassured on Tuesday that there was no fresh fuel scarcity, emphasizing that the recent tightness in certain areas resulted from a brief distribution hiccup in Lagos, which has since been resolved. Soneye stated, “We are pleased to confirm that there are no supply issues, and our products remain readily available.”
Similarly, the National Vice Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, acknowledged the queues in Lagos but suggested they could be attributed to customer panic-buying.
He expressed uncertainty about fuel scarcity, intending to investigate the situation.
Clement Isong, the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, claimed he was not aware of the situation as he was not in Lagos at the time of the report filing.