The CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mele Kyari, says that the prolonged fuel scarcity being experienced across the country was not peculiar to Nigeria. 

“Having fuel queues is really not something that is local to any one country. It happens everywhere – whenever you have either breaches of pipes, pipeline issues, and so on,” Mr Kyari said.

In an interview with Channels TV on Tuesday, Mr Kyari described the fuel scarcity in the country as a “glitch”, adding that Nigerians will have steady supply of fuel as soon as Dangote refinery starts operation. 

“We don’t hope that this happens to our country but you must have guarantee of supply in your country, which is why we are focused on delivering our refineries rehabilitation projects, so that ultimately this product becomes close to us.

“Now, this hasn’t happened. The refineries’ rehabilitation is not completed. The Dangote Refinery hasn’t taken off. Both of them will happen; once that happens, you have the safety and security of supply near you,” Mr Kyari said. 

For over a year, Nigerians have suffered severe fuel scarcity, a development that has disrupted economic and commercial activities across the country, with official pump price increased from N145 to N195 per litre.