Real reason for fuel scarcity in Abuja, northern states

The reason for fuel scarcity in some parts of Nigeria has been revealed.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) explained that flooding and impassable roads have prevented haulage trucks to distribute petroleum products to some parts of the north in the last two weeks leading to the scarcity.

The agency, however, assured that fuel scarcity currently being experienced in parts of the country would soon end.

“Following the flooding, major roads being used by marketers have gone bad making truck drivers spend up to nine days, especially around Koton Karfe in Kogi before reaching their destinations.

“Roads that have also gone bad in Niger are Bida-Lemu-Zungeru, Minna-Tagina-Makonkele, Tegina-Mokwa-Makera-Minna and Lambata-Lapai-Agaie-Bida,’’ IPMAN stated in Kano.

Its Chairman (Northern Zone), Alhaji Bashir Danmalam stated that 200 trucks of petroleum products were already heading to Abuja and other parts from Calabar.

He explained that the trucks would go through Ikom and Ogoja in Cross River, to Katsina-Ala and Vandeikya in Benue, and to Lafia, where the floods receded, then to Abuja.

He commended the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company for pledging to support haulage firms with diesel to cushion the cost and facilitate fuel distribution.

He noted that the Federal Road Safety Corps was also doubling efforts to clear the roads of broken-down vehicles to ensure the smooth passage of the fuel-laden trucks leaving Calabar

Danmalam stated also that the haulage firms had received assurances that contractors had been mobilized to attend to the damaged portions of the roads to ease the passage.