Many oil marketers operating in Lagos and its surroundings took the decision to close their filling stations yesterday due to the ongoing panic buying situation.
In a rather alarming incident, a 43-year-old man shared his harrowing experience of having his car stolen by a ‘pregnant’ passenger, which ultimately led to him losing consciousness.
Meanwhile, there has been a slight alleviation in the petrol supply challenges previously faced in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as more oil marketers have been able to receive supplies.
Nonetheless, a survey conducted by Vanguard revealed that several marketers without available petrol opted to shut down their stations, denying access to motorists and other customers in need of the product.
The survey findings also uncovered that those holding commercial stocks, such as some NNPC Ltd filling stations and prominent energy marketers, were selling petrol to consumers at prices ranging between N560 and N700 per liter as of yesterday.
Visits to various stations in the Central Area of the nation’s Capital showed that establishments like Ardova, Conoil, and TotalEnergies were effectively serving motorists, signaling a positive shift from the prolonged queues and disorderly scenes witnessed over the past six days.
Regarding the challenges faced, NNPC Ltd pointed out the adverse weather conditions hindering operations at jetties, truck load-outs, and the transportation of products to filling stations, causing disruptions in supply logistics.
Furthermore, NNPC Ltd emphasized compliance with Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, citing safety concerns due to the flammability of petroleum products, which restrict loading activities during rainstorms and lightning occurrences.
Urging the public to refrain from engaging in panic buying, NNPC assured ongoing efforts to ensure the market remains well-supplied with the necessary petrol quantities.
