The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has calmed the ongoing tension on petrol scarcity reported in some major parts of the country today.

Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad, said in a statement: “The NNPC Ltd wishes to assure the public that the company has sufficient PMS stock to meet the needs of Nigerians.

“The public is, therefore, advised not to engage in panic buying of petrol; and to ignore all rumours that may suggest otherwise.

“In line with the existing laws of the land, NNPC Ltd. is deeply committed to ensuring energy security for the country.”

However, the fear of scarcity spread across the metropolis. In Abuja, the queues, which have lingered for some days, continued.

In both cities, black marketers flooded major highways with petrol in cans, selling to motorists on the roadside.

In Lagos, vehicles lined up at Ajah, Lekki, Victoria Island and the mainland areas in search of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol.

It was the same situation in Sango-Ota, Mowe, Ibafo and Arepo axis on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

There were long queues all over Abuja. Very few petrol stations had the product.

Most of the outlets on the Kubwa Expressway were shut.

The few that had the product were packed with vehicles. It was the same in the Nyanya area.

At the city centre, queues created gridlock in parts of Wuse and Garki.

Black marketers had a field day, selling from between N300 to N400 per litre.

The situation may worsen if the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) carries out its threat to withdraw haulage service should the Federal Government not address rising operational costs.

Many other stations shut their gates to motorists on Lagos Island, except Oando on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.