Fuel scarcity gets messier as filling station ration product

By Adewale Sanyaolu

The acute shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol took a turn for the worse yesterday, as some filling stations have commenced a rationing strategy to meet consumer demands.

Some of the filling stations engaged in rationing failed to sell into jerrycans once the fuel tanks of customers were filled. In addition to barring sale of petrol into jerrycans as crowd control measures some retailers were also giving priority to their premium customers who have retainership agreement with them. These categories of customers who purchase fuel in huge volumes for their fleet of pool vehicles include schools and corporate organisations.

Findings by Daily Sun yesterday across filling stations operated by major and independent marketers reveal the presence of premium customers being served in dedicated lanes. Some of the vehicles are branded, especially school buses which took turns to fill their tanks to the frustration of other car owners waiting in long queues. The scenario was observed around filling stations in Surulere, Victoria Island, Abule-Egba, Ogba and Ikeja.

Some of the fuel attendants who spoke to Daily Sun in separate interviews said the strategy was meant to avoid breaching agreements earlier reached with premium customers.

‘‘You know petroleum product marketing is about volume. The more volumes you are able to sell, the more you can break even. We must develop ways to keep out loyal and consistent customers who deliver volumes for us,” they said.

For these set of customers, scarcity or no scarcity, they remain with us, at all times. We have some that have been in business with us for over 10 years. For this category of customer, once you have supply, you must make provision for them in order to earn their trust. We cannot afford to disappoint them,’’.

Meanwhile, the petrol supply situation at some depots in Apapa has not improved as tanker drivers complain of product availability.

They complained that some trucks have been on the queue since Friday without hope of loading, saying the delay in their turnaround time was also a major disincentive for them.