FUEL queues due to scarcity of the products have resurfaced in the Federal Capital territory (FCT), Abuja, and environs, with most filling stations shut, even motorists struggle for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly (petrol) in the few outlets dispensing.
It was feared that this could be due to the suspension of operations by the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) in fulfillment of their threat to stop lifting products from Monday, February 19.
The Federal Government had ordered oil marketers to negotiate with NARTO to avert the planned stalemate and oil marketers and the executives of NARTO had met about six times to resolve the issues.
NARTO had threatened to stop lifting petroleum products due to the high cost of operations, especially the high cost of diesel required to power their trucks for the transportation of products across the country, which currently sells between N1,250 and N1,400 per litre.
NARTO’s President, Yusuf Othman, had in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday last week, said the statement was an official announcement from the association’s headquarters that members would park their trucks from Monday, February 19, “because what we spend on operations is more than what we get in total, both in local and bridging.”
