The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a stern warning to retailers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, against engaging in illegal sales amid ongoing fuel shortages.
This alert comes from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which has taken to its official X account to communicate the message.
The NMDPRA’s statement emphasizes that fuel stations must not cater to black marketers who sell petrol unlawfully, particularly in jerrycans. The regulatory body has made it clear that filling stations participating in these illegal activities risk having their retail licenses suspended. The move is part of the government’s broader effort to combat the unlawful sale of petroleum products, especially in light of the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting Abuja and surrounding regions such as Nasarawa and Niger states.
Recent observations reveal that many fuel stations in the Federal Capital Territory are either closed or not dispensing fuel, with only a few operational outlets. For example, along the Kubwa Expressway, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) stations were among the few open for business on Friday, leading to extensive queues at these locations.
Two weeks ago, NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye attributed the scarcity to issues with unloading operations of several vessels. Despite these explanations, the problem persists, and fuel shortages continue to disrupt daily life.
In response to the recurring nature of these shortages, Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association (PETROAN), has urged the Nigerian government to establish a dedicated task force to address the issue.
