Oil marketers have attributed the current scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to ongoing logistics challenges.
Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association (PETROAN), revealed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday.
He explained that oil marketers are facing supply constraints and can “distribute only what we have.”
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He said, “I think until we get our supply challenges sorted out efficiently and abundantly, we will not be able to get out of this circle.
“I believe you must have heard the NNPC’s communications director who explained that the issues at stake are still logistics-related.
“So until they get that resolved, we may just be managing the little they bring, and give to us to distribute among our members.
“NNPCL is doing its best to bring in products bit by bit, and we can only supply what we have.”
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When asked to give further explanation on what the logistics challenges were all about, he said, “The logistics issue is about ship-to-ship transfer. Until the ship gets products, it cannot deliver to any of the depots. And until depots have products, we the retailers cannot also have access to products,”
He assured, however, that marketers are in discussions with NNPCL to address the supply challenges.
He said, “We have been speaking with NNPCL. We encourage them to do more, and I can assure you that they are trying their best.”
Gillis-Harry’s explanation regarding the scarcity follows prolonged shortages of products, particularly in the northern regions of the country.
The shortage has since extended to Lagos over the weekend.
