By Tony Obiechina, ABUJA
The Federal Government and petroleum marketers on Thursday after a joint meeting have agreed on settlement of outstanding claims and assured that operations at all depots and sales will continue until further notice.
This was contained in a statement signed by Paul Abechi, Media and Communication Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed in Abuja.
According to the statement, officials of the federal government and representatives of the petroleum marketers after a meeting in Abuja, jointly signed a communique in which they agreed to pay the outstanding claims.
The meeting which was held at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja has senior government officials from Ministry, the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in attendance.
Also in attendance on the part of the petroleum marketers were representatives from the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
While expressing satisfaction over the arrangement being made by the Federal Government to settle their claims, the petroleum marketers assured the members of the public of availability of petroleum products.
The statement reads, “The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) with the Federal Government delegation meeting held at the Federal Ministry Finance in Abuja on Thursday, December 6, 2018, agreed that operations at all depots and sales will continue until further notice.
“After a meeting held today, Thursday, December 6, 2018, with senior Government officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, we are satisfied with the arrangements being made by the Government to settle the claims of petroleum marketers.
“The discussions showed that the Government has considered the concerns and is reviewing the initial process approved by the Government for the settlement. We consider that this shows the Government’s responsiveness to the need for the claims to be settled in a timely manner.
“We hereby wish to reassure the members of the public on the availability of PMS. We urge the public not to panic, as there will be no fuel scarcity.
“The engagement of the two sides will continue on Monday, December 10, 2018.”
