Fresh Round Of Fuel Scarcity Amid PMS Production At Dangote Refinery

New queues have emerged in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), causing motorists to spend hours waiting to purchase Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

This followed the closure of many filling stations operated by independent marketers.

Findings by Daily Trust on Tuesday evening, showed that many filling stations in Abuja did not open, while there were long queues at the few stations that dispensed the product, particularly those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and some major oil marketers.

Outlets such as the NNPC mega station on the Katampe axis of the Zuba-Kubwa Expressway, AP station along Aguiyi Ironsi Street in the city centre, and NIPCO filling station also along the Zuba-Kubwa expressway, among others, had massive queues.

The situation left scores of residents stranded at various bus stops.

It has also created a lucrative environment for black marketers, exploiting the situation to make exorbitant profits.

Quoting sources, PUNCH reported that members of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) had lifted over 50 million litres of PMS from the Dangote Refinery in the past week.

Speaking during a webinar on Tuesday, Huub Stokman, Chairman of MEMAN, confirmed that major marketers have started loading the product from the refinery.