NNPC blames #EndSARS Protests for fuel scarcity

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has hinged the resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations nationwide on traffic obstructions caused by the #EndSARS protests, which reached its climax last week.

The state-run oil firm said on Monday that supply of petroleum products was also hampered by the curfew imposed in many states to restore order due to unrest from the protests.

Long fuel queues were spotted at filling stations in different parts of the country and the Federal Capital Territory yesterday, as many motorists resorted to panic buying.

NNPC spokesman Kennie Obateru said the situation will be addressed in the coming days.

“Normalcy is expected to return to the petroleum products supply chain in the next couple of days”, NNPC said in a statement reported by NAN.

“There is no need for panic buying, be rest assured that supply will soon return to the entire country.”

The corporation boasts of having over two billion litres of petrol in stock — enough it says to guarantee steady supply nationwide for a 60-day period.

The now-relaxed protests for the scrapping of the brutal police special anti-robbery squad, SARS, came at a time of economic crisis in Nigeria, and stalemate cost the country an estimated N700 billion in revenue, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry said last Monday.

Peoples Gazette reported that the #EndSARS campaigners blocked the Lekki-Epe Toll Gate and the alternative Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital.

The protesters also barricaded roads leading to the international airports in both Lagos and the FCT.