Even though the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has given assurances that the fuel scarcity being witnessed in the country has come to an end, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has condemned the recurring queues still lingering at some filling stations in Lagos.
The union has blamed the situation on the fuel marketers because according to it, activities at the depots are at full swing and fuel is available.
Even though the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has given assurances that the fuel scarcity being witnessed in the country has come to an end, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has condemned the recurring queues still lingering at some filling stations in Lagos.
The union has blamed the situation on the fuel marketers because according to it, activities at the depots are at full swing and fuel is available.
Shipping Position Daily checks revealed that fuel queues still persist at some fuel stations around Lagos metropolis due to hoarding and siphoning of the product by some of the fuel marketers.
In a chat with our correspondent via telephone last week, General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Isaac Aberare demanded that fuel marketers should give account of what they are doing with the products loaded at the depots every day.
Aberare told Shipping Position Daily that, "the problem lies in the hands of the marketers, because if fuel is available and they are lifting it, and yet they are not selling to Nigerians, then they have an explanation to give to Nigerians" he said.
Also speaking with our correspondent last week, a Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG, Comrade Abidoye Lawal confirmed that virtually all the depots and outlets in the western zone are now bubbling with loading activities.
He attributed the persistent fuel queues to the leftover of the scarcity that was experienced about two weeks ago.
Abidoye also categorized the situation on activities of some unscrupulous marketers, even as he dismissed fears that fuel scarcity is still continuing. "It is just panic buying" he said.
"You see, all those you see at the fuel stations still carrying jerry cans are just engaging in panic buying, in Nigeria we have an attitude of not seeing what is pursuing us before we start running"
"The NNPC is trying its best in making the product available, if you go to Ejigbo, Mosimi, Apata in Ibadan and all other outlets now, you will discover there is availability of fuel" he said.
Speaking further, Abidoye advised the NNPC to always plan ahead in the importation of fuel in order to avoid subsequent scarcity in the country.
"Rather than waiting for fuel crisis to arise before issuing import licenses to marketers, NNPC should be proactive and plan ahead, they know the amount of fuel they want to import per quarter, so why wait for scarcity before going to the drawing board", he asked.
"When you notice there is scarcity, it then means that somebody somewhere is not doing his job, NNPC issues these licenses, so they should control the marketers internally before the situation degenerates into a scarcity" he said.
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