NNPC Supplying Extra 4million Litres Of Petrol Daily - Yakubu

ABUJA, September 25, (THEWILL) - As part of efforts to reduce fuel queues across the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed that additional 4 million litres of petrol has been released to marketers from the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).

Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu made this known on Tuesday during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Represented by Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, Dr. Peter Nmadu, the GMD said the corporation, in its bid to meet the petrol needs of the country after the rupturing of the System 2B Pipeline at Arepo by vandals, made alternative arrangements for products distribution by diverting petroleum products to some private depots in Lagos for onward trucking to petrol stations.

He explained that NNPC relied on massive trucking of the products across the country to ameliorate the pains of motorists, as one-third of the nation’s daily fuel consumption is pumped through the ruptured System 2B Pipeline.

“In order to alleviate the hardship being inflicted on Nigerians by the product thieves who ruptured the NNPC System 2B Pipeline at Arepo, the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company is supplying additional 4m litres of fuel to bridge the gap and ease the hiccup,” he said. “With the ongoing efforts, we are optimistic that the queues will fizzle out.”

He added that some of the NNPC trucks that were conveying fuel to the North were also trapped in Lokoja due to the floods but assured that the corporation has been working hard to meet the country’s demands for fuel.

Decrying the activities of pipeline vandals, Nmadu noted that three NNPC staff were still missing while some others are still receiving treatment for injuries sustained while trying to repair the ruptured pipeline a couple of weeks ago.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Downstream, Magnus Abe commiserated with the management and staff of the NNPC over the missing personnel and assured of a collaborative effort with the Nigerian Police to help in their rescue.

Speaking in similar vein, Vice Chairman of the Committee, Alh. Danjuma Goje commended the corporation for its pragmatic measure by increasing the number of petroleum products trucks to all parts of the country to address the challenge.