Just as fuel scarcity is still biting hard, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday evening reassured Nigerians that the lingering scarcity will ease by weekend.
Spokesman of the agency, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, told newsmen in Abuja that there was an increase in the number of incoming trucks of petrol into the FCT to curb the queues in the city.
According to him, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, has met with the heads of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) to nip the problem in the bud.
He disclosed that a nation that consumed 35 million litres suddenly increased consumption to 85 million litres due diversion to neighbouring countries.
“Dr Baru just today directed that more trucks be moved into the FCT to douse tension and increase supply. He met with NARTO and PTD and they assured that trucks would be closely monitored.
“He said Lagos should be maintained at 300 trucks but the actual figure coming into Abuja should be increased by 150.
“Port Harcourt refinery has also increased refining and so by tomorrow (Friday) queues should normalise and by weekend it would have disappeared,’’ Ughamadu said.
NNPC averred that what is happening can best be described as artificial as the corporation “as at today has adequate products and a 25-day sufficiency’’.
