Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Sunday, assured Nigerians that there was sufficient premium motor spirit (PMS) also known as fuel in the country.
Kachikwu in a radio programme monitored in Abuja, said the country had gone past the era of fuel scarcity and urged motorists to desist from panic buying.
“I can say that there shouldn’t be any reason for fuel scarcity, we have gone past the era of fuel scarcity. NNPC informed me when I made inquires that they imported enough.
“Yesterday, I saw a few pockets of scarcity in Abuja, but I was told that it was Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) related distribution issues, and it will be sorted out as soon as possible.
“So, it is not an issue of lack of sufficiency, I am told they have about 28 days’ sufficiency, two weeks ago, they presently have between 14 and 15 days product sufficiency,’’ he said.
The minister noted that the 28 days sufficiency was okay based on 50 million litres daily utilisation in the country.
“I don’t expect to see a scarcity, I just expect them to work hard over the next few days to deal with whatever logistic issue they have. I will be working with NNPC on that,’’ he added
On queues building up in some filling stations in Lagos and Abuja, he maintained that the country was wet enough to serve the needs of motorists.
“I haven’t visited Lagos cities, but the information I have is that there is enough product on ground and we should be able to deal with whatever it is.
“The problem with fuel scarcity is that if you allow it to last for three days , then it builds up a life of its own.
“That is what I have enforced NNPC to do to make sure that it is resolved,’’ he said.
Kachikwu noted that it would had been a major issue for the country if there was insufficient product on ground but assured that NNPC would be able to resolve whatever the situation was in a few days.
