Department of State Services (DSS) has given a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and oil marketers to resolve the ongoing petrol distribution crisis.

Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, said this on Thursday after a meeting with stakeholders at the headquarters of the service.

Afunanya said the secret police would commence operations across the country if the queue persists at various filling stations after the deadline.

He said the petrol scarcity affects the country’s security.

He said NNPC agreed that there is enough product that will serve Nigerians during and after the Yuletide season.

Stakeholders at the meeting include NNPC, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

Others are Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum Tanker Driver (PTD).

In the last few weeks, the country has been battling petrol scarcity, spreading to several parts of the country.

While IPMAN said the scarcity was caused by the shortage of petrol at NNPC depots, the state-owned oil firm had said ongoing road projects in Lagos affected distribution.

Reports have it that NNPC has received new cargos and started nationwide distribution.

The Cable