The Federal Government and marketers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol will today return to negotiation table amid petrol scarcity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The Federal Government through the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, had convened a meeting to resolve ongoing challenges in the downstream petroleum sector, especially the scarcity of petrol but the stakeholders did not reach a consensus.
The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and their employees under the Petroleum Truck Drivers (PTD) on Monday stopped lifting PMS over low transport margin which they claim can no longer take care of cost of diesel alone.
Lokpobiri said the government is determined to avert looming threat of a nationwide service withdrawal by tanker owners responsible for transporting petroleum products across the country.
“The issue at hand is purely commercial and not a policy matter,” Lokpobiri said, adding, “the potential hardships that such a withdrawal could inflict on the populace, deemed it necessary to intervene.”
Lokpobiri assured the stakeholders of government’s commitment to finding a lasting resolution, stressing that the discussions with downstream stakeholders extended late into the night, demonstrating the government’s proactive stance on resolving the issue promptly.
The minister commended the willingness of NARTO members to reconsider their planned nationwide service withdrawal, indicating a positive step towards a mutually beneficial agreement.
According to him, all parties remain hopeful for a swift and amicable resolution to avert any disruptions to the nation’s fuel supply chain as the discussion continues today.
While the stakeholders find ways to address the issue, motorists spend hours on the queue across stations in the capital city as the situation is heading for the worst.
By the front of the Minister’s office and the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited motorists are in a long queue as black marketers deface the Central Business District.
