“Very poor defense style as usual! How soon before the Federal Government of Nigeria, leading other stakeholders of the petroleum industry stopped playing humbugs?
“How can they be telling Nigerians that adulterated petrol with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification was “discovered in the supply chain”, Nigeria’s industry stakeholders should just wake up.
“The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, whether as a limited liability company or not, that I do not know, is the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria. It has its due diligence department that certifies quality of product before it enters the Nigerian waters, so, what went wrong? I think the government and its workforce have taken Nigerians for granted for too long. It’s hard time they got it into their heads that Nigerians are now wiser.”
This statement from a civil society group member was coming at the emergence of queues within critical locations in Nigeria following a disclosure, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, that adulterated petrol with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification, was discovered in the supply chain.
In a statement, it said the supplier had been identified and appropriate sanction would apply.
It also said oil marketers had been directed to ensure sufficient supply of quality petrol in all outlets in the country.
In its statement, the regulatory authority said, “Limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as Petrol, with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification was discovered in the supply chain.
“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“To ensure vehicular and equipment safety, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit.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 PUNCH had earlier reported that retailers of petrol said the recent petrol queues in parts of Abuja, Nasarawa, Lagos, Niger, among others, surfaced because some private depot owners were hoarding the commodity as they awaited subsidy removal.
The Federal Government had recently suspended its plan to remove fuel subsidy in June this year. It also proposed to extend the subsidy removal implementation period by 18 months.
With Punch.
