Easter period: MOMAN to discharge 77,000 metric tonnes of petrol

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) said its members would supply not less than 77,000 metric tonnes (33,000 trucks of 33,000 litres) across the country ahead of the Easter period.

The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, disclosed this to newsmen during its quarterly meeting in Lagos yesterday.

Olawore said that the association had sufficient petroleum products in stock to go round during the Easter period and beyond.

According to him, “between now and the weekend, we will have over 75,000 metric tonnes which represents about 32 trucks of 33,000 litre of petrol to be discharged at Apapa jetty to enhance effective flow of petrol during Easter.

“We want to implore Nigerians not to engage in panic buying during the period as we have enough petrol in stock to go round the country.

“We have instructed all major oil marketers’ filling station to operate a 24-hour service during the period so that everybody will have access to petrol,’’ he said.

Olawore said that about 95,000 metric tonnes of petrol was also expected at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depots to ease the flow of the product within every nook and cranny of the country.

“It is obvious that with the number of petrol expected and currently discharging in the jetty, Nigerians don’t need to engage in any form of panicking.

“We appeal to all filling stations to avoid hoarding petrol in their own interests, because we will not hesitate to sanction any erring marketers.

“Some MOMAN vessels will also discharge petrol at the Eastern part of the country through Owerri Refinery,’’ Olawore said.

The MOMAN Executive Secretary said that his members had promised to bring more vessels into the country to flood it with petrol and eradicate queues from the nation’s filling stations.

NAN reports that many filling stations in Lagos have continued to experience long queues of motorists due to non-availability of petrol.(NAN)