Following the flood that has ravaged some parts of Lokoja in Kogi State,the Federal Road Safety Corps has announced traffic diversion on the Lokoja-Abuja Expressway over the natural menace.
The agency said the diversion had become imperative following the flooding around Kortonkarfi in Lokoja, Kogi State, in the last three days.
The FRSC’s Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, announced the traffic diversion in a statement on Friday.
The statement read, “This is to inform the general public, that owing to the flooding around Kortonkarfi in Lokoja, Kogi State, which has impeded the free flow of traffic on the Lokoja-Abuja Expressway for the last three days-
“Motorist travelling to the South-West region of the country through Lokoja are kindly advised to take the Suleja-Bida-Mokwa road, while those travelling to the South-South/South-East regions through same town are also advised to go through Nasarawa-Oweto Bridge-Adoka-Otupka axis.
“This is due to the fact that the water level may take another two or more days to subside.”
Meanwhile,the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has blamed the massive flooding Lokoja,Kogi State for the disruption in supply of fuel to various filling stations in the region.
It was reported that fuel queues grew longer in Abuja yesterday with motorists spending long man-hours in queues to get the product.
According to report,several filling stations, including the NNPC mega station in zone 1,Conoil and Total, opposite the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), formed long queues as they patiently waited to purchase petrol.
Assuring the public of enough fuel in stock, NMDPRA urged the commuters to avoid panic buying at fuel stations as the agency is working assiduously with relevant stakeholders and government agencies to ensure product availability across the country.
“The Authority wishes to state that the fuel queues are caused by unprecedented flooding in Lokoja, Kogi State, which has submerged a greater part of the city and grounded all vehicular movements. This unfortunately has affected the distribution of petroleum products to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and environs,” a statement from the agency stated.
As part of measures to mitigate the situation, the NMDPRA said that trucking via alternative routes is currently ongoing, assuring the public that there are sufficient petroleum products inland.
“Consequently, the general public is advised to avoid panic buying at fuel stations as the NMDPRA is working assiduously with relevant stakeholders and government agencies to ensure product availability across the country.
“In the same context, marketers are advised to desist from hoarding the product so as not to inflict hardship on Nigerians. The Authority wishes to reiterate its commitment to Nigerians to ensure seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide,” it added.Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has said it has sufficient stock of petroleum products, urging the public not give in to panic buying.
“The current queue situation in some parts of Abuja and its environs is as a result of delays in arrival of fuel trucks. This is happening as a result of heavy flooding that has submerged parts of the highway passing through Lokoja, Kogi State and also an incidence of a failed road section around Badegi-Agaie highway in Niger state.
“Consequently, vehicles, especially fuel tankers, are finding alternative roads to get to their intended destinations,” a statement from the NNPC noted.The national oil firm said it was working assiduously, in collaboration with relevant government agencies, to open up the major highway and ease supply disruption.
“While we do that, we urge the general public to remain calm and not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products.
“The current situation is temporary and has nothing to do with shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as the NNPC Ltd has a 30-day products’ sufficiency.”