As Nigerians go through difficult times as a result of the current fuel supply disruption in many parts of the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) says it is distributing one billion litres of safe Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol, in its stock to various fuel stations nationwide.

Mr Adetunji Adeyemi, Group Executive Director, Downstream, NNPC, who disclosed this, also added that 2.3 billion litres of PMS would arrive Nigeria before February ending to augment existing reserves and restore sufficiency.

“As of today , NNPC has one billion litres of petrol in stock and the petrol being dispensed today at various fuel stations in the country is safe.

“In order to accelerate PMS distribution across the country, NNPC has commenced 24-hour operations at its Depots and Retail Outlets,” he said.

 Adeyemi stated that along with its partners, the NNPC was embarking on a 24-hour service, noting that Nigerians can now buy the product round the clock in filling stations.

The Mele Kyari led NNPC is not folding it’s hands as various measures are being out place to solve the crisis partially caused by the importation of adulterated PMS by some marketers.

Spokesperson for the NNPC, Garba-Deen Muhammad, confirmed that a technical committee had been set up to look into the matter, and how the contaminated products would be managed.

He said, “The first thing is to ensure that it is recalled and not in circulation. There are various ways of handling this kind of product; we will leave that to the technical committee that has been set up.

“This committee is drawn from MOMAN, DAPPMAN, downstream regulator, NNPC, from all stakeholders. They all have technical people and know the best way to handle this kind of product.”

Kyari had on Wednesday confirmed that investigations by the company revealed the presence of methanol in four PMS cargoes imported by four Direct Sale Direct Purchase suppliers.

Providing the details of the culpable suppliers, Kyari said, “Importer vessel name load port, 1. MRS MT Bow Pioneer LITASCO Terminal, Antwerp-Belgium; 2. Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium MT Tom Hilde; 3. Oando MT Elka Apollon; 4. Duke Oil MT Nord Gainer.”

This is as the President, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr Chris Isiguzo, in a statement said that “the importers of the contaminated fuel will take full responsibility and seek restitution for this national mishap.”

He said, “It has become imperative to note that after over four years of uninterrupted availability of premium motor spirit, Nigerians over the past few days have been grappling with buying the products at filling stations across some parts of the country.

“The present challenge the Union understands is as a result of the importation of PMS with higher than normal methanol level. Since the unfortunate development, it is regrettable to observe that there have been some back-and-forths between the NNPC and some of its designated importers over the ‘bad fuel’.”

The NNPC has also stepped ahead by ensuring that the bad fuel be fully withdrawn, while cargoes of clean petrol are arriving daily into the country to bridge the gap created by the withdrawal of the methanol-blended petrol, a development that may have led to the fuel disruption.

In addition, the NNPC, it was gathered, has now quarantined the fuel with excess methanol, while all the trucks that had left the depots were tracked and intercepted, with the restocking of the depots with cleaner fuels.

Meanwhile, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depot Owners & Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have begun 24 hours loading and dispensing activities in some of their designated outlets.

Assuring Nigerians, Adeyemi said “NNPC implores Nigerians to avoid panic buying and assures that the ongoing efforts will be sustained to restore normalcy in a few days’ time.”

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