By Abiola Olawale
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has assured Nigerians that queues will start disappearing from filling stations across the country in the coming days.
The Minister stated that it is expected that there will be availability of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, by the weekend.
Lokpobiri made this known after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima.
It would be recalled that Shettima held a meeting with Lokpobiri, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, and the Executive Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mugo Okuoha, following a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Lokpobiri stated that Tinubu has given them the directive to ensure an abundant supply of fuel.
He also urged Nigerians to desist from panic buying, stating that the government was not fixing prices and the prices would stabilize as soon as the product was made available.
He said: “What is important is for us to convey to Nigerians that the President is empathetic about what is going on in the country. He is concerned about the hardship of Nigerians, and that was why he directed the Vice President to call this meeting, for us to reflect on what is going on in the country.
“What is important is that products are available in the country, and we believe that between now and the weekend, there will be availability of products across the length and breadth of the country.
“The price could be high in some other areas, much higher in some other locations, and in some locations, much more than you know other areas. But we believe that by the time there is availability of products across the country, the price itself is stabilised.”
The New Diplomat reports that the latest meeting came after NNPCL retail outlets adjusted the pump price of fuel.
Some retail outlets increase the pump price from N568 to N855, N897.
Filling stations owned by private individuals have also been selling fuel at higher prices than the NNPCL. Some were selling at 1,200 naira per litre on Wednesday.
