Amid the ongoing petrol scarcity in Nigeria, Festus Osifo, President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), warned that periodic fuel queues will continue until systemic issues are addressed. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Osifo emphasized that logistical challenges must be resolved to end the recurring shortages.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Osifo explained that even if the queues disappear temporarily, there is no guarantee they won’t return due to persistent logistical issues. “We need to either fix the pipelines to ensure a steady supply from coastal areas to the hinterland or establish strategic reserves across the six geopolitical zones,” he said. “Without these measures, the problem may be alleviated temporarily but will likely resurface.”
Queues at filling stations reappeared earlier this week, with oil marketers citing ongoing logistical difficulties. Osifo proposed creating strategic reserves for petrol to mitigate these issues. He noted that current distribution largely relies on tank farms in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Calabar, which complicates the supply chain when regional disruptions occur.
He also recommended revitalizing petrol depots nationwide to improve distribution efficiency. Additionally, Osifo discussed the potential for using technology to combat crude oil theft, a persistent challenge impacting Nigeria’s economic growth. “We can deploy technology to address the issue of oil theft effectively,” he stated.
