OpeOluwani Akintayo
05 March 2018, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, more popularly known as petrol, accounts for about 70 percent of petroleum products consumed in Nigeria, according to a past president of the African Refiners Association and Managing Consultant, PEJAD Nigeria Limited, Engr. Anthony Ogbuigwe.
Ogbuigwe disclosed this to SweetcrudeReports in an interview in Lagos, saying the huge volume of PMS consumed in the country was inappropriate and does not promote development when compared to other African countries that consume diesel.
“Nigeria’s consumption of almost 70 percent of PMS is not good for development. Other African countries consume more of diesel and that is what is largely in demand. So, if the country would start refining, it will focus on petrol, instead of diesel that is more demanded in other countries”, he said.
Ogbuikwe faulted recent report that Nigeria’s current PMS consumption had hit 55 million litres per day.
In a statement released in January this year, Group General Manager, Public Affairs at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, reported that Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption had gone up to 55 million litres from the 35 million litres it used to be. He blamed this on the activities of cross-border smugglers.
Ogbuigwe, however, said the quantity has been inflated, insisting that the actual daily consumption is between 35 and 40 million litres.
“55 million litres per day is not Nigeria’s consumption. What we consume is between 35 million and 40 million litres per day. The rest goes somewhere else”, he added.
