Normalcy is gradually returning to the supply and distribution chain of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol, following the scarcity of the product in the last three weeks.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) blamed the development on “logistics” issues.

The improved petrol supply across the country, The Nation gathered yesterday, was not unconnected with the opening up of reserves by the NNPCL for supply to the marketers.

Confirming the improved supply and distribution of the commodity, Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) National President Abubakar Maigandi told our correspondent on phone that at the rate the supply and distribution had yesterday, the scarcity would end before this weekend.

“The situation is better today (yesterday), but will be much better tomorrow (today) when we will get more supplies of the product. The queues have reduced drastically at the filling stations.

“The supply has been improving day-by-day and we are sure that if the tempo and rate of supply we get continues, then this week, all the backlog supply shortage would have been cleared and normalcy will return,” he said.

Maigandi praised the NNPCL leadership for speedily resolving the shortage.

“We, at a meeting with the NNPCL, advised them to open up all the reserves across the states for supply and distribution. They listened, and that is why we are seeing the queues disappearing very quickly now. NNPCL has started supply from their reserves where they have outstanding products,” the union leader said.

It was, however, noticed yesterday that some independent marketers were selling the product at higher prices.

In Lagos, the NNPCL retail outlets maintained its price of N568 per litre and N580 per litre in Ogun State.

Major marketers, including Mobil, sold the product at N605 per litre in Lagos and N800 per litre in Ogun State.

But most independent marketers in both states sold petrol between N800 and N900 per litre.

Maigandi described the high prices by some marketers as “exploitative”.

He added: “You know that Nigerians like to advantage of situations like this scarcity to exploit one another. That is what is happening. But I can assure you that by this weekend, their excesses would have been curbed because everywhere would have been flooded with petrol, so long as the supply trend we have now is not disrupted.”

The Nation observed yesterday that a number of petrol tankers were heading to various destinations to supply the commodity.

END.