The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has raised concerns over the shortage of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol, affecting its members across the country amidst widespread scarcity.
The umbrella body, which boasts over 3,000 members and controls a significant share of Nigeria’s filling stations, also accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited of failing to supply adequate products to its members.
The Chairman of IPMAN, Ore Depot, Shina Amoo, claimed that the NNPCL, as the sole importer of petroleum products, has not provided sufficient supplies to IPMAN for the past three years, leading to a dire situation for its members.
“There is no supply anywhere. The available supply is poorly distributed. We have been raising concerns about this for a long time. We previously had an arrangement where we enjoyed a 70/30 supply ratio based on our capacity.
“Independent marketers are spread across villages and urban areas, yet we are not being considered in the supply chain,” Amoo lamented during his appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.
The NNPCL had through its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, stated that the oil firm was working hard to tackle the fuel supply challenges, stressing that the queues should clear by mid-week.
However, Amoo highlighted the bureaucratic delays faced by IPMAN members when dealing with NNPCL, saying, “Previously, after payment, it took a week to load products. Now, the process drags on for three to five months. This has made many of us turn to private depots, even though they charge premium prices.”
He expressed frustration over the current distribution pattern, accusing NNPCL of sidelining IPMAN in favour of other groups such as DAPPMAN and MEMAN.
“NNPCL abandoned the distribution pattern and stopped being sincere. They no longer supply IPMAN but prefer to supply others. The volume they provide is insufficient for our needs,” Amoo stated.
He also addressed the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies, arguing that corruption within the downstream sector is responsible for the skyrocketing prices. He believes that eliminating corruption would lead to a significant drop in product prices. (PUNCH).
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