Stop Panic Buying, Fuel Not Scarce, NNPC Insists

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday stated that it has enough stock of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, to serve the needs of Nigerians across the country

for about 17 days and urged Nigerians to desist from panic buying of the product.Speaking in Abuja on the fuel supply situation across the country, Executive Director, Commercial, Pipelines and
Product Marketing Company, PPMC, Mr. Justin Ezeala, stated that the country currently has 656.376 million litres of PMS in its various storage platform, while it is expecting additional 756.99 million litres of the product before the end of November.Giving a breakdown of the figures, Ezeala explained that 66.81 million litres are in PPMC depots; 117.48 million litres in PPMC throughputs depots; 427.971 million litres of marine stock and 44.112 million litres are in the depots of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN.In addition, he stated that 380.99 million litres are expected to be brought in by the PPMC through import, between now and the end of the November, while other marketers are expecting 376 million litres.17 days products supply in stock, 35-days supply expectedHe maintained that the current stock available in its depots and reserves are enough to serve the country for 16 days, while the products that are being awaited in the next couple of days would serve the country for 35 days minimum.Ezeala disclosed that the NNPC and the PPMC have increased fuel supply to Abuja and environs and also across the country and would lift about 180 truckloads of PMS to Abuja from about 135 trucks daily.To this end, he encouraged Nigerians to avoid queuing for fuel if they have no urgent need to buy the product.He further encouraged the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to go out to the field and carry out enforcement activities and ensure that stakeholders adhere strictly to the laws of the country