The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), has allayed fears of fresh scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol in Abuja and environs.

NARTO’s president, Yusuf Othman, gave the assurance on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Othman debunked claims by oil marketers that NARTO members were not willing to take petrol to the nation’s capital due to the poor condition of the roads.

“There is no iota of truth in that claim. The fact is that fuel is being distributed and the transporters are very happy with the Federal Government.

“We are happy with the N10 that was added to the freight rate for PMS. The only problem we have is that it has not fully been implemented by the marketers.

“But as at this moment, there is no threat to strike and we are not going on strike.

“In fact, following the approval, some of our members including myself have bought new trucks to increase distribution of PMS in the country.’’

He, therefore, advised residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) not to engage in panic buying of petrol because the transporters were available to distribute products to Abuja and environs.

The federal government had on June 1, approved an upward review of the freight rate for PMS following the sharp increase in the price of diesel used by trucks for transportation of the product.

The government said the move was to encourage NARTO and other stakeholders to deploy more trucks to transport PMS nationwide to ensure adequate supply of the product. 

(NAN)