With his gaze at achieving 100 percent normalcy in the supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo has charged members of the NNPC War Room not to rest on their oars in their assignment of restoring fuel supply to the country.

The "NNPC War Room "was established last week by Barkindo with an express mandate to clear the fuel queues noticeable in some Nigerian cities particularly Lagos and Abuja within seven days. But millions of Nigerians were relieved on Monday morning when they woke up and observed that the fuel queues were disappearing at a record speed.  

Addressing members of the task force at the NNPC Towers Abuja on Monday, the GMD stated that the NNPC management is determined to do everything within its powers to ensure that fuel queues do not return.

"The battle has just started and we must be ready to maintain the current momentum if that is what it takes to restore normalcy to the fuel situation,’’ Barkindo noted.

As the fuel queues continue to vanish by the minutes, the `War Room’ has continued to wet filling stations across Lagos and Abuja with unprecedented volume of supply. For Monday distribution, a haul of 229 trucks left the Suleja Depot to service Abuja and its extended environs with fuel. This figure also includes additional 30 trucks on hold and 15 others on stand-by operation as at Monday morning.

In Lagos, huge distribution figures were also recorded on Sunday. While the Major Marketers distributed 69 trucks, a total of 189 trucks were dispatched from NNPC Facilities / Private Depot to filling stations in Lagos bringing the total volume to a record 258 trucks.

To ensure unencumbered access to petroleum products, the `War Room has introduced an extended sale time for products in some filling stations within the Abuja metropolis till midnight. The stations which include eight major filling stations in Abuja would complement the efforts of the NNPC Mega station/ Retail outlets in providing nocturnal services to residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

Alhaji Aminu Baba-Kusa, Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment who is also the supervisor of the `War Room’ informed that the FCT Police Command has guaranteed the provision of security in this regard.

"The Police in Abuja have agreed to provide some MOPOL in each of the stations and we believe that this would go a long way in making fuel available to those who don’t have time to buy during the day.”

Also plans are underway to introduce similar night time service to fuel stations in Lagos after due consultations with other stakeholders and the Lagos State Police Command.