The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) retailers against engaging in illegal sales of the product, as scarcity continues to plague the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and neighboring states.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has embarked on a crackdown on illegal petroleum product sales, particularly petrol in jerrycans. Retail outlets are advised to cease servicing black marketers, or face suspension of their licenses.
Despite the warning, fuel scarcity persists in the nation’s capital, with most filling stations shut down. Only a few, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets, were dispensing fuel on Friday, leading to long queues.
The scarcity has become a recurring issue, with no permanent solution in sight. Two weeks ago, NNPCL attributed the scarcity to a hitch in discharge operations, but the problem persists.
Last month, the President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, urged the government to set up a war council to tackle the recurring fuel scarcity.
