ABUJA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Protests against police abuses in
Nigeria and curfews to curb demonstrations have affected the
supply of petroleum products across the country, leading to the
emergence of long queues, state oil firm, NNPC said on Tuesday.
Petrol shortages are common in Nigeria and they often bring
the economy to a standstill with widespread power cuts at
businesses that rely on petrol-driven generators to withstand
frequent power outages and grounded planes.
"The disruptions ... of free flow of vehicular movement
occasioned by the EndSARS Protests and the attendant curfews,
restrictions, and vandalism, particularly in Lagos obviously
affected petroleum products ... distribution," NNPC managing
director, Mele Kyari said.
Thousands of Nigerians demonstrated for more than two weeks
against police abuses. But the peaceful protests turned violent
on Oct. 20, when witnesses and groups such as Amnesty
International said soldiers opened fire at protesters, killing
some. The army denied its troops were there. Tensions remain high across Nigeria, with looting
nationwide, particularly of warehouses holding food meant to
assuage the impact of COVID-19 on the poor.
The NNPC in a statement cautioned against panic buying of
petrol adding that it has supply for at least 60-days.
"With the easing of the curfews and restrictions of movement
by various state governors, normalcy is expected to return to
the petroleum products supply chain in the next couple of days,"
Kyari said.
A judicial panel investigating claims of police brutality
and the shooting of protesters began hearing complaints in Lagos
on Tuesday.