Rain, lightning, thunderstorms caused petrol scarcity – NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (NNPCL) has attributed the fuel scarcity and long queues at filling stations across the country to recent adverse weather conditions, including heavy rains, lightning, and thunderstorms.

Dapo Segun, NNPCL’s vice-president (downstream), revealed this during a press conference at the NNPC towers in Abuja.

Apologizing for the degree of fuel shortages in the country and acknowledging the NNPC’s reluctance to offer excuses, Mr. Segun explained on Tuesday that the challenging weather conditions affecting fuel distribution are beyond the corporation’s control but assured that every effort will be made to address the situation.

“We’ll like to apologise to Nigerians for the queues we’ve been seeing springing up. A number of the causes are outside of our control but we’ll do our best to manage. We do not like to make excuses,” Mr Segun stated. “For example, since the rains began, the Estragos channel has been difficult to navigate through. We have vessel after vessel going around there because of siltation, and that has really hindered our ability to bring petroleum products, particularly PMS, up country.”

“We also understand that with the rains also, situations where to discharge petroleum products where there is lightning, thunderstorms, you have to suspend, not just the discharge of petroleum products onshore but also, the evacuation from the tankers. We’ve had situations that have occurred in recent times.

“We’ve also had issues with the road network. That also gives challenges in bringing these products upcountry. The tightness you see in Lagos currently was due to a very short supply gap, which has since been redressed. Vessels are in Lagos now, offloading and discharging as I speak. So, that is definitely short-lived.”