The federal government has blamed the latest fuel scarcity in Abuja and other major cities on an unsafe quantity of methanol found in petrol imported into the country.
According to the Nigerian government, methanol, a substance that is usually present in petrol, found in the product exceeded Nigeria’s specification.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority said on Tuesday that the presence of the substance has led to the affected fuel being kept off the supply chain, thereby creating scarcity and resultant long queues at fueling stations in Abuja, Lagos and other major cities in the country.
The Authority added that the impacted products have been isolated and withdrawn from the market.
Fuel in many filling stations in the Wuse, Gwagwalada, Bannex and other areas of Abuja are sold to buyers at prices ranging from N162 to N165.
At one of the NNPC outlets in the Central Business District, there was a huge crowd at the station Tuesday morning, as motorists struggled to buy petrol.
An official at the station said, “This is how we see the queue this morning but I must tell you that there are no issues.
“We have the product and we are selling it at N162.”
The NMDPRA statement read:
- The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (The Authority) wishes to inform the general public that limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as Petrol, with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification was discovered in the supply chain.
- Methanol is a regular additive in Petrol and usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
- To ensure vehicular and equipment safety, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit.
- Our technical team in conjunction with NNPC Ltd and other industry stakeholders, will continue to monitor and ensure quality petroleum products are adequately supplied and distributed nationwide.
- The source supplier has been identified and further commercial and appropriate actions shall be taken by the Authority and NNPC Ltd.
- NNPC Ltd and all Oil Marketing Companies have been directed to sustain sufficient distribution of Petrol in all retail outlets nationwide.
- Meanwhile, NNPC has intensified efforts at increasing the supply of Petrol into the market in order to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.