By Edith Ike-Eboh
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has lauded the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) for ferrying petroleum products across the nook and cranny of the country at the critical moment.
The Corporation gave the commendation in a statement signed by its spokesman, Dr kennie Obatero, in Abuja, on Friday.
He said that the tanker drivers’ selfless service during the lockdown had ensured smooth distribution of petroleum products during the restriction period occasioned by Coronavirus pandemic.
He quoted the Managing Director of the NNPC Retail Ltd., Mr Billy Okoye, as saying that NNPC Retail Ltd’s filling stations, numbering more than 600 across the country, were to remain operational throughout the period of the lockdown to meet the energy needs of Nigerians.
Okoye disclosed that all NNPC Retail outlets were wet with sufficient petroleum products, ready to serve the public.
He explained that the company’s retail outlets were stocked with sufficient petroleum products, with Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) depots holding its products in various states of the federation.
The MD added that NNPC Retail Ltd’s products were daily being trucked to stations strategically located across Nigeria, urging consumers not to engage in panic buying.
“Our major responsibility is to ensure that there is fuel supply in our stations.
“We have enough products at all our storage tanks and at our depots; we also have a large quantity of products in transit to our stations. Nigerians don’t need to panic,” Okoye reassured.
He further thanked the various state governors for allowing petroleum tankers to crisscross their states despite the movement restriction order.
He also commended the security agencies, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and all other service providers in the downstream value chain for their support.
Okoye further commended Nigerians for their understanding during this period, assuring that the NNPC Retail stations would remain open to avoid any shock in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the Country.
He thanked the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, for the strategic leadership he had provided during the challenging times, adding that stakeholders in the downstream sector are ready to collaborate to ensure Nigeria is wet with petroleum products at all times. (NAN)
