The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has urged Nigerians to stop panicking over fuel scarcity as there is sufficient product.
The duo associations gave the assurance on Saturday in Lagos against the backdrop of the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country.
The association confirmed that about six vessels of imported petrol ordered by the National Nigerian Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are currently discharging products, adding that the corporation had sufficient product.
Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, the National President of IPMAN said that there is no need for panicking over fuel scarcity, adding that virtually all the NNPC depots across that States has commence loading of petroleum product by marketers.
Okoronkwo said that marketers are currently loading petrol in Makurdi, Kano, Enugu, Aba,Yola, Suleja, Kaduna, Ejigbo, Mosinmi, Ibadan and other depots across the country.
He said that the shortfall in distribution was due to slow paste of product importation and itches at the jetty which had been addressed.
According to him, “Government is on top of the situation, there is enough of petrol to go round. I have also instructed all our members to ensure adequate distribution of the product to all nocks and crannies of the country.
“Have also directed tem to ensure product is sold at official price of N 145 per litre. If there is any issues on distribution and pricing differentials members should call the secretariat for further action.
“ The Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template has not change, there is no change in pricing, so no marketers should influence hike or sell above official price,’’ he said.
The IPMAN boss said that the association is committed to supporting the Federal Government on effective distribution of petroleum products.
He said that IPMAN has reached an agreement with other marketers for better synergy in meeting products availability in the country since it has better strength in storage.
“IPMAN, which controls 80 per cent outlets, has more advantage in distributing and dispensing in both urban and hinterlands in the country.
“In line with government’s efforts at ensuring efficient petroleum products distribution across the country, IPMAN members have opted for a seamless distribution of petroleum products,’’ he said.
The IPMAN helmsman said that such synergy amongst members with government would present a common front that would advance the interest of the group and ensure smooth distribution of petroleum products across the country.
Similarly, Mr Tayo Aboyeji, Chairman, Lagos Zone of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also collaborated with IPMAN boss, saying “There is enough fuel, Nigerian should avoid panic buying’.
Aboyeji said that “there are fuel and its available, as am taking to you some of the depot has received product and loading.
“What is happening was panic buying; people think there might be price increase from government or removal of subsidy.
“But nothing of such, government has assured us that no increase in petrol pricing for now, so, Nigerians and marketers should avoid been panic over fuel scarcity.
“I urged Nigerians and motorists to avoid storing of petrol at home because it’s dangerous for us, fuel is available, have visited some depots and I can confirmed to you that there is loading going on.
As at yesterday, we have instructed our tanker drivers to engage in 24-hour loading activities and lift product from depots to filling station across the nation.
“We will ensure 24-hour service delivery of product distribution in the country; we also urged government to checkmate activities of the task force in Lagos and Opic along Ibadan expressway.
“Our members are been extorted and harassed by members of the task force. Some drivers which were scheduled to load in Lagos were denied asses to Lagos, which also affects effective distribution of products,’’ he said.
However, Alhaji Debo Ahmed, Chairman, Western Zone of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN)said that the ongoing queues at some stations was due to shortfall in NNPC distribution network to depots.
Ahmed said that all depots within the South West were loading at low paste due to insufficient products.
According to Ahmed, “We have lots of pending tickets from marketers awaiting loading at each depots but were still stranded.
Also, Alhaji Ayo Alanamu, Chairman, IPMAN Ejigbo Satellite depot attributed the challenges to shortfall of product from NNPC.
Alanamu said that marketers (MOMAN, IPMAN and NNPC retails) battled with 40-trucks on daily basis which was not sufficient.
He urged government to expedite action towards importing more product to avoid another around of scarcity that had been put to end.
He said that depot owners were also contributing to the scarcity due to the hike in pricing.
It would be recalled that on April 12, NNPC says trending social media report of an impending fuel scarcity due to purported refusal by some oil marketers to lift products from depots was false.
The NNPC in a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu appealed to Nigerians to disregard the rumour.
He explained that the tale was fabricated by mischief makers with intent to create undue panic in the prevailing sanity in the fuel supply and distribution matrix across the country.
He said that the NNPC has over one billion litres of petrol in stock while Imports of 48 vessels of 50million litres each have been committed for the month of April 2019 alone.
He noted that there was no need for panic buying or hoarding of petroleum products in anticipation of a phantom scarcity.
Ughamadu reiterated that the pump price of petrol remained N145 per litre.
A check by TBI Africa in Lagos revealed that queques hadstaring building up in some filling stations within the metropolis, whulke some were under lock and keys.
