The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a stern warning to oil marketers hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, threatening to revoke their licences amid ongoing fuel scarcity in several northern states, including Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kaduna.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) made this announcement as the fuel scarcity continues to worsen, with many filling stations shutting down due to a lack of supply. The NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, emphasized the seriousness of the situation during an inspection tour in Abuja.
“You need to take this [warning] very seriously. If you need security reinforcements, speak to your management,” Ukoha told a filling station manager, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
In addition to the inspection, the NMDPRA also declared on its X handle that it has “embarked on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans.” The regulatory body cautioned that filling stations caught servicing illegal peddlers would face the suspension of their retail licences.
Earlier, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) attributed the scarcity to issues in the discharge operations of vessels and adverse weather conditions, which disrupted supply routes. Despite these explanations and ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis, the scarcity has persisted, particularly in the northern regions of the country.
