Abuja Fuel Queue Is A Tip Of The Iceberg, Prepare For Worst – Petrol Marketers Tells Nigerians

As Nigerians hope that the rising queue in Abuja fuel stations does not get to other parts of the country, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has dashed their hopes, charging them to prepare for the worst fuel scarcity.

AFNEWS had reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), attributed the queues in fuel stations over the weekend to low load-outs at depot which is usually experienced after a long public holiday. READ HERE

Contradicting the NNPC’s explanation, Petroleum marketers said the scarcity of fuel is because “many marketers cannot transport the product because their funds are not being paid.”

Speaking to newsmen in Kano in a conference on Monday, IPMAN chairman in the State, Bashir Danmalam, said failure of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to pay transportation claims for over 8 months, forced many of its members out of business as they couldn’t transport the commodity due to high cost of diesel.

“NMDPRA is responsible for the payment of bridging claims otherwise known as transportation claims

“For failure of the NMDPRA to pay the outstanding claims for about nine months, many marketers cannot transport the product because their funds are not being paid. Despite the high price of diesel, they manage to supply the petroleum products nationwide.

“The resurfacing of fuel queues in Abuja is just a tip of the iceberg with regard to the petroleum scarcity.

“Out of 100 per cent, only five per cent of the marketers can supply the petroleum products because of the failure of NMDPRA to pay them.”

“As leaders, we have to come out to say the truth because our members are suffering from the failure of the agency to pay the fund. This Petroleum Equalisation Fund is our own money we contribute to each litre. This agency is doing more harm than good to us.”

“We are not agitating for a transportation fee increase, we are only clamouring for payment of our bridging claims that is over N500 billion,”.

He called on the Federal Government to remedy the situation immediately before it escalates.