The President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has attributed the persistent fuel queues in Nigeria to weak and outdated distribution chains. He stated that the country’s distribution chain is insufficient to meet the demands of its large population, relying on a single point of product importation and using trucks to distribute across the nation.
Osifo also identified insufficient fuel supply, bad roads, and flooding as contributing factors to the scarcity. He called for urgent reforms to address the challenge and emphasized the need for a more efficient and reliable distribution system.
Additionally, Osifo highlighted high production costs, partly due to security burdens, and advocated for the government to take over security responsibilities from investors. He also urged the government to strengthen laws and sanctions against oil theft, calling for harsher penalties to deter bad behaviors.
Key points:
- Weak and outdated distribution chains contribute to fuel queues
- Insufficient fuel supply, bad roads, and flooding exacerbate scarcity
- Urgent reforms needed to address distribution challenges
- High production costs partly due to security burdens
- Government should take over security responsibilities and strengthen laws against oil theft
Osifo’s statements emphasize the need for comprehensive solutions to address the recurring fuel shortages and queues in Nigeria.
