By G9ija
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured of a hitch-free festive season as the country nears a period where demand for petroleum products hit roof top.
NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, gave the assurance on Wednesday.
According to the NNPC GMD in a statement signed by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, motorists and other consumers of petroleum products across the country have nothing to worry about during the festive season.
Baru in the statement explained that the NNPC has 37 days fuel sufficiency, stressing that strategies had been put in place to ensure that Nigerians experience a hitch-free festive period.
Meanwhile, the Corporation cautioned against unnecessarily stockpiling, and mishandling of petroleum products, especially as the dry season draws near in the country.
According to the NNPC boss, experience had shown that commuters stock petroleum products at home or move about with them in their vehicle boot at this period of the year, exposing themselves and others to serious danger.
Ughamadu, in the statement, said the incident involving a car laden with fuel which burst into flames while in motion last week at Umuode community, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State, exemplified the danger of transporting inflammable petroleum products in vehicle not made for that purpose.
The Corporation’s spokesman admonished communities hosting NNPC facilities to refrain from taping products from NNPC pipelines or engaging in activities that my lead to spill of petroleum products, saying individuals involved in such an act may suffer untold casualties.
He encouraged communities in NNPC’s areas of operations to report suspicious movements around the corporation’s facilities to the law enforcement agencies, adding that observing basic safety rule of keeping away from areas where inflammable petroleum products spills had occurred could save lives and properties.