FG measures on fuel ease pressures at filling stations

Federal government short term measures of dealing with the fuel queues is easing the fuel scarcity that has paralysed activities in the country as fuel queues are reportedly dissipating in parts of Abuja and Lagos.

As part of short term measure, the government has decided to take delivery of 40 million litres of petrol daily till end of April, 2016.

However, some analysts say last night that Ibe Kachukwu, Minister of State for Petroleum, may have failed in his promise to ease off fuel scarcity by today as desperate Nigerians were seen thronging filling stations in an unusual manner yesterday in their hundreds waiting to get the commodity.

Industry sources said there may not be respite until next week because the rate of discharge of the cargoes brought into Apapa jetty is very slow. They said the current vessel servicing both Nipco, Mobil and Forte Oil with about 20 million litres has been discharging in the last three days and it is yet to finish.

They said the facilities on ground cannot take delivery of 40 million litres everyday because the turnaround time for such delivery is long.

To deal with the fuel scarcity, the federal government on the short term is ramping up nationwide petroleum supply and distribution to all states to ensure product availability in the country.

For midterm solution, the government plans to increase strategic reserves before the end of April, reduce NNPC’s allocation holding for quarter two to 50 percent and increase support of major marketers on importation.

As a long term solution, the government plans to rehabilitate oil and gas infrastructure nationwide including pipelines, depots, pump stations and refineries.

Justin Ezeala, executive director supply and distribution of the Nigeria products marketing Company said 30,000 metric tons (40 million litres) of petrol is being discharge everyday in order to ease off the fuel scarcity by the end of April, 2016.

According to him, about 290 trucks are being deployed as against the normal 200 trucks to a place like Lagos but this has not helped the situation, as people continue to hoard the fuel. He said the number of trucks to Lagos would be increased to 300 in order to ensure that the city and its environs is saturated with fuel.

He said in anticipation of today’s target, the company has decided to push seven cargoes to various coastal cities such as Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, adding that the system 2B, Atlas Cove pipeline is now working. It is responsible for pumping fuel to Mosimi depot.

It would also pump fuel to Ibadan from where the northern parts of the country would be serviced in order to cut short the number of days it would take to transport fuel to the north. The company he said is ahead in terms of cargoes importation. The cargoes he stated are coming as another 30,000 metric ton would be taken delivery of today.