Nigeria: Why fuel scarcity has persisted,

www.gamji.com by Ahmed

The NNPC Group Executive Director of Refinery and Petrochemicals, Alhaji Mansir Ahmed, has attributed the present fuel scarcity to increased domestic consumption.

Briefing newsmen at the ongoing Kaduna International Trade Fair on Wednesday, Ahmed said the consumption rate had increased from 18 million litres to 26 million litres daily.

He also said consumption usually increased during festivities such as Sallah and Christmas to about 30 million litres per day.

Ahmed explained that while the country now consumed 26 million litres daily, it could only produce about one half of that quantity.

He said preparations by the U.S. to attack Iraq made it impossible for petroleum production to circulate within OPEC member states, thereby contributing to the factors causing fuel scarcity in the country.

The director further said because of the impending war against Iraq, Nigeria could not import fuel to complement domestic production in January and February.

He said Nigeria could not also import fuel from Venezuela to address the present shortage because the South American country too had product shortages resulting from disruptions in its system.

Ahmed appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience as efforts were being made by the NNPC to ensure adequate supply of fuel throughout the country.