Normalcy is being gradually restored to many filling stations by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Abuja after long queues of motorists for petrol experienced since the beginning of the month, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
A check by a correspondent of the agency on Monday showed that while minimal queues were witnessed at most NNPC outlets, customers simply drove in to buy fuel in some other stations across the city.
At Oando, Gegu, Conoil and Umaruta fillings stations on Kubwa Expressway, the long queues have disappeared.
Also at AA Rano, Forte and Conoil filling stations on Nyanya and Airport Road, customers simply drove in to buy the product.
Unlike last week when some of the filling stations had no product, most of them were seen dispensing fuel at the official rate on Monday.
But at the NNPC mega station at the Central Business District, Kubwa Expressway and Garki, motorists still joined very short queues before they could be served.
Amos Gabriel, a motorist, told NAN that he preferred to buy from NNPC station because their pump dispensed accurately.
Gabriel said: “I fill my tank with fewer amounts in NNPC, but if I go to all these other filling stations, I spend more money.
“You know that some of them set their pump badly and still say they sell at the official rate.
“I have tried all of them and have seen that it is only NNPC mega stations, especially this one at the Central Area, that sells with ‘correct’ pump.
“So, however bad the queue is, I don’t mind.
“I will wait patiently until it gets to my turn.”
Also, Tunde Andrew, a taxi driver, said he preferred to buy from NNPC mega stations because of the price difference.
Andrew said: “I am a business man.
“Every one naira makes a lot of sense.
“I prefer to buy from the NNPC mega stations.
“One, their pump is good.
“Two, they sell cheaper.
“And three, they are government-owned.
“It is a way of supporting my country’s company.”
NAN reports that at Total and Conoil filling stations at the Central Business District that always had massive queue, customers spent less than 10 minutes to get the product.
One of the staff, who preferred anonymity, said it had been a busy period as they operated on a 24 hour basis.
He said: “Since this scarcity, we run 24 hours shift and people are always here to buy.
“Today, as you can see, things are getting normal.
“I think NNPC has tried because we have products and we never stopped selling.”
The NNPC had over the weekend apologised to Nigerians over the fuel scarcity witnessed in the country and assured of adequate supply of products.
It said: “We have filled the gap and provided a 30-day buffer arrangement.
“We once again apologise to Nigerians for the inconveniences as we work assiduously to avoid a repeat of this distressing situation.”
NAN.
