To ensure that the Presidential directive on the lockdown of some states adheres without concerns about the availability of petroleum products, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has announced measures to guarantee the seamless distribution of fuel across the country.
In a statement on Monday, March 30, 2020, the group general manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Kennie Obateru, quoted the managing director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company, NNPC’s downstream subsidiary, Musa Lawan, as saying that PPMC workers had been mobilized to provide loading services throughout the period.
Lawan said: “If you recall, two days ago, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, stated that we have 60 days sufficiency of Premium Motor Spirit. That is very correct. As a matter of fact, we have about 2.68 billion liters of petrol in-country and in marine storage. At the prevailing daily consumption rate of 45 million liters, that translates to roughly 60 days.”
The PPMC boss called on motorists and other consumers of petroleum products not to engage in hoarding or panic buying of petrol, noting that the Corporation was ready to provide enough products across the country.
Lawan also disclosed that two more petrol laden vessels were expected to berth at the Ports by Tuesday, March 31, 2020, noting that the vessels would be discharging 250 million liters of petrol.
On the complaints of non-availability of personal protective equipment against Coronavirus for tanker drivers by the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, Lawan assured that the PPMC was engaging with the stakeholders to address the issue.
Also, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, said it has no plan of shutting down. He assured Nigerians of a continuous distribution of petroleum products by its members for commercial, industrial and domestic uses in spite of pandemic.
The union has also inaugurated hand sanitizers to its petroleum loading depot across the country.
Speaking during the presentation of the sanitizers to leaders of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers, PTD, Lagos Zone at the NUPENG’s office in Jibowu Yaba, the national president, Williams Akporeha, said: “We came to the conclusion that the nation needed our essential services in the same manner the nation requires the services of all those in the front line of the fight to curtail the spread of the virus.
“It was, therefore, unanimously resolved that all our members, on the value chain of distribution of petroleum products for commercial, industrial and domestic uses, shall continue to work. ‘’On the threat issue by the union last week to shut down if the government refused to protect their members against the Coronavirus, he said everything has been resolved.
In addition to the government’s support in protecting their members, he said the union had decided to provide hand sanitizers to its members across the country. “We have decided to provide, within our meager resources, hand sanitizers to all our members across the country.
“We commissioned a pharmaceutical company to produce specifically for our members across the country. “These hand sanitizers come in 10 liters jerry cans to serve as a refill for dispensers that we are going to distribute as well with other kits such as hand gloves and masks,” he said.
Afolabi Olawale, the general secretary of the union, said the union would be sending about 1,000 of these items (sanitizers) to its members at the depot every week until the pandemic is over. He said:” We have 154 petroleum loading depot across the country, but as we are talking we have 120 of these numbers in active operation.
“Besides that Petroleum Tanker Drivers have about 300 places across the country that serve as their stopover points for resting and recreation, we will be distributing these items to all these places”. He urged all petroleum depots owners, operators, petrol station owners, and industrial set-ups to provide necessary mechanisms and tools.
He also urged members of the union to strictly ensure hygiene at work, home, on the streets and with everyone they would interface within their daily activities. He said that adherence to the safety measures would go a long way to check coronavirus spread and keep the socio-economic activities of the country alive.
Hattip to Pulse
