The minister of state for petroleum resources, Ibe Kachikwu, on Monday said queues at filling stations has nothing to do with petrol supply scarcity but as a result of logistics challenges.
Mr Kachikwu, who addressed newsmen at the opening of the second edition of the Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association, OGTAN, urged the public to ignore rumours of planned upward review of pump price of petrol.
According to him, there was no discussion within government circle about petrol price review.
“I took time to go round some stations in Lagos and I discovered that the queues which resurfaced has disappeared and let me tell you the issue of petrol pricing is a sensitive thing.
“You can see how the oil unions quickly reacted to the rumour and again the government is sensitive and engages stakeholders in every decision or policy it makes.
“Therefore, this spontaneous reaction and resurfacing of queues despite assurances by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is worrisome,” Mr Kachikwu said.
He expressed confidence in the management of the NNPC and its capabilities to maintain and meet the supply needs of the country, and that the logistics gap which prompted the unnecessary panic has been resolved.
Giving further explanation to the situation, head of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, Roland Ewubare, said about fifteen vessels laden with products arrived the country but had discharge challenges especially at Warri port, but the situation has been resolved.
Mr Ewubare, further said that even with the challenges, the NNPC has about 1 billion liters of petrol which is equivalent of above 28 days, assuring that the nation would not experience scarcity of any sort.
