Nigerians have taken to social media to express their frustrations over the persistent scarcity of petrol.
The citizens wondered why the government has failed to live up to the promise to make life easier for them.
The reactions are due to the confirmation by the Petroleum Company Limited that recent reports in national newspapers regarding the company’s significant debt of $6 billion to petrol suppliers.
“This financial strain, according to a statement by Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer, NNPC Ltd, at the weekend, has placed considerable pressure on the Company and poses a threat to the sustainability of fuel supply.
“In line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NNPC Ltd remains dedicated to its role as the supplier of last resort, ensuring national energy security.
“We are actively collaborating with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to maintain a consistent supply of petroleum products nationwide”.
Reacting to the NNPCL’s statement, an X user with the handle @therealspookie tweeted:
“Please help me ask them why they’re taking over all the fuel stations in Lagos, rebranding them NNPC and then locking them up? Fuel stations I usually rely on have all been taken over by NNPC and they never ever sell fuel. They claim to sell at 585 but they’re never open”.
For @habiblinz “Supply fuel crude/raw materials overseas Right? For a country as big as Nigeria with all the crude oil fuel is one of the biggest challenges we face”.
Recall that on August 19, 2024, the NNPC Limited released its 2023 Audited Financial Statement (AFS) declaring a net profit of N3.297 trillion at the close of the financial year which ended in December 2023, an increase of over N700billion (28%) when compared to the 2022 profit of N2.548trillion.
In a world press conference held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Monday, Mr. Umar Ajiya the chief financial officer of the Company, said the release of the AFS is a testament to the Company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
To this end, Mahdi Shehu @shehu_mahdi asked “Dear @nnpclimited, Please, how is it possible that has at Aug 19, you declared a profit of 3.3trn and you are now broke, it’s not even up to a month?
“What’s really happening , should we start trending Justice for NNPCL?”
