The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has forecasted that the current scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, may persist for another two weeks.
IPMAN's Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukadike, made this announcement on Sunday in response to the widespread scarcity affecting many states in the country.
Ukadike explained to Vanguard that the unavailability of the product is due to challenges in sourcing it, as many refineries in Europe are currently undergoing maintenance.
He stated, "Once there is a disruption in the international supply chain, it affects domestic supply because we rely on imports."
Ukadike added that the NNPC Group CEO has assured them of improvement in the supply chain, with vessels arriving to enhance the situation. However, he noted that restoring normalcy may take two to three months if the 30-day supply sufficiency is disrupted.
The IPMAN spokesperson also attributed the acute scarcity to importation bottlenecks and delays in the renewal of marketers' licenses by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The fuel scarcity has led to the grounding of transportation in many cities, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Lagos State. Some fuel stations have closed down, while others are accused of hoarding the product, resulting in long queues at stations that are still dispensing fuel.
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