AMID visible long queues at fuel stations and concern that the country might be heading for a major energy crisis, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday said that it has fuel in abundance.
The corporation also assured that there was no planned fuel price increase now or in the foreseeable future.
General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, said in a statement that the seeming scarcity was artificially induced.
His words: “The NNPC has received reports of purported fuel scarcity in some cities across the country. The corporation’s investigation reveals that some people are stocking up fuel because they are frightened by rumours that there is not enough fuel to service the country and that a fuel price increase is imminent.
“The NNPC categorically assures the general public that there is abundant fuel throughout the country.
“In fact, available stock of fuel in the country is over 21 days sufficiency.”
Advising motorists to avoid fuel stations where all available pumps are not in use, Ajuonuma noted that such was instrumental to the unnecessary queues, thereby providing opportunities for extortion by “unscrupulous fuel station operatives.”
The statement added: “Everyone is hereby advised to go about his or her lawful business and ignore these mischievous rumours of fuel scarcity and price increase, which are totally unfounded.
“All motorists are also admonished not to store fuel in jerry cans to avoid fire disaster.”