…As regulatory agency withdraws fuel circulation
President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, to query the chief executive officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over the adulterated premium motor spirit (PMS) discovered in circulation.
The unsavoury development has seen the return of queues to the nation’s filling stations, especially the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the nation’s commercial hub, Lagos.
PMB ordered Ahmed to explain how the product (PMS), commonly known as ‘petrol’, with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification passed through the agency, which is the regulator of the downstream and midstream sector, to infiltrate Nigeria’s supply chain.
Methanol is a regular additive in ‘petrol’ and is usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
The NMDPRA is responsible for the regulation of the midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria, including technical, operational and commercial activities.
Meanwhile, a statement by the NMDPRA said it has isolated and withdrawn the limited quantity of the impacted product from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit to ensure vehicular and equipment safety.
It said the regulatory authority’s technical team, in conjunction with NNPC Ltd and other industry stakeholders, will continue to monitor and ensure quality petroleum products are adequately supplied and distributed nationwide.
The statement revealed that the source supplier has been identified and further commercial and appropriate actions shall be taken by the authority and NNPC Ltd.
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, to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.
