There have been multiple complaints by motorists, especially in Lagos and Abuja, over contaminated Premium Motor Spirit, aka petrol, which damaged the engines of their vehicles.
Already long queues have returned to petrol stations in Abuja, Lagos, and some other states.
A marketer who preferred anonymity told DAILY NIGERIAN that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (Ltd), NNPC, imported the product with high sulphur content and about 100 million liters is currently in circulation.
Some of the filling stations affected are Total, Ardova, Enyo, Pinnacle, among others.
Sources said there is panic buying in some trusted stations amids NNPC’s efforts to recall the contaminated petrol from circulation.
A video online shows a petrol attendant complaining about how the adulterated petrol dispensed at the station damaged cars and motorcycle engines.
While pointing at some of the grounded vehicles, he said many motorists have reported the matter to the police.
NNPC spokesman, Garba-Deen Mohammed, could not be reached for comment at the time filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has confirmed the availability of the contaminated product in the market.
In a statement on Tuesday, the authority informed the general public about the discovery of a “limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol” with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification.
“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“To ensure vehicular and equipment safety, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit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,” the statement said.
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