The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of being responsible for the current fuel scarcity affecting many cities in Nigeria.
Speaking through the chairman of the Ore Depot, Shina Amoo, IPMAN said on Tuesday that the NNPCL failed to supply petrol to its members.
Amoo said the failure of the NNPCL to make the product available is responsible for the scarcity of petrol across the nation. He added that the national oil company, 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.
The IPMAN official made the allegation during his appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief.
“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.
It would be recalled that the NNPCL had, through its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the current fuel scarcity was caused by distribution challenges and the scarcity would be resolved by mid-week as the company was making efforts to resolve the situation.
However, Amoo lamented that the NNPCL has been sidelining IPMAN in favour of other groups such as DAPPMAN and MEMAN which has made its members turn to private depots for supply.
He said previously, it took a week to load products, but now, the process drags on for three to five months.
“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.
“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 said the removal of fuel subsidies, coupled with the corruption within the downstream sector, is responsible for the skyrocketing prices of petrol.