The Federal Government has identified hoarding as the primary reason for the worsening fuel scarcity in states across the country.
In response, the government has threatened to withdraw the licenses of oil marketers found guilty of hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), hoarding has led to the unabated scarcity in Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and many other northern states.
The Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, warned oil marketers that filling stations found hoarding petrol and selling to black marketers in jerrycans would face severe consequences.
He issued the warning during an inspection tour in Abuja captured in a video clip shared by the regulator. In the clip, Ukoha was seen cautioning a manager at one of the inspected stations, saying, “Take this warning very seriously. If you require additional security measures, please consult with your management team.” This warning underscored the regulator’s commitment to enforcing compliance and addressing the fuel scarcity crisis.
The NMDPRA has declared war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans.
The agency advised filling stations to desist from servicing illegal peddlers, failure of which would result in the suspension of retail licenses.
