…As IPMAN warns against panic-buying
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has confirmed the discovery of toxic petrol in some service stations.
It said there is limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) aka petrol, with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification discovered in the supply chain.
The NMDPRA, however, announced that, for the safety of vehicles and equipment, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit.
Methanol is a regular additive in Petrol and usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
The regulatory agency noted that the supplier of the bad product has been identified, assuring that appropriate actions shall be taken by the authority and NNPC Ltd.
It further assured its technical team in conjunction with NNPC and other industry stakeholders would continue to monitor and ensure that quality petroleum products were supplied and distributed nationwide.
“NNPC Ltd and all Oil Marketing Companies have been directed to sustain sufficient distribution of Petrol in all retail outlets nationwide.
Meanwhile, NNPC has intensified efforts at increasing the supply of Petrol into the market, in order to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.
On its part, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has promised that the current scarcity of products being experienced in some parts of the country would soon be a thing of the past.
The Vice President of IPMAN, Abubakar Maigandi, promised that petroleum products will be available from Wednesday.
He, therefore, warned motorists against panic buying.
Maigandi gade the caution on Tuesday while speaking as a guest on Newsday, a news programme on Arise TV.
“The government and the NNPC are on it,” he said.
“There is no way we can sell the contaminated fuel because it will affect motorists.
“But…car owners should stop panic-buying. By God’s grace, today or tomorrow, the product will be available nationwide,” he further assured.