A top official of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency has said that the fuel scarcity being experienced in various states across Nigeria would continue till the first quarter of 2013 unless something is done urgently.
The official, in an interview, Monday, with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said the scarcity would continue “because the demand for the product has over-shot supply.”
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A Survey by NigerianEYE in Osun, Ogun, Oyo,Ogun States and Parts of Lagos reveals how many marketers were selling the product at 110-120/Liter.
The official, who did not want his name disclosed, therefore, called for the total deregulation of the downstream sector as a way out of the lingering fuel scarcity sweeping across the country. He said a multi-phased deregulation process was the only way out of the scarcity.
“I think the full deregulation of the downstream sector will be the way out of the lingering fuel crises we are experiencing,” the official said.
The official, who decried the lingering scarcity, called for adequate enlightenment and the provision of cushioning measures before the total removal of subsidy. He said the delay in the payment of subsidy arrears to most marketers contributes immensely to the current scarcity as only the NNPC is currently importing the product.
He said that for the deregulation process to be effective there was a need to resuscitate the country’s refineries, build adequate fuel reserves, tank farms, and functional pipeline network.
Marketers want full deregulation
The Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Obafemi Olawore, said the full deregulation of the downstream sector would bring about efficiency in the sector and signal an end to the perennial fuel crises.
He explained that most oil marketers stopped the importation of the product since the beginning of the year due to what they described as “discrepancies in subsidy payment” which they said is responsible for the current scarcity.
The Chairman, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, Dapo Abiodun, also called for the deregulation of the sector as a way of sanitising it.
Is the delay in the Payment of marketers a Plot to cause a scarcity with a view to Invent a need for subsidy removal or it is market forces finally dictating that subsidy be removed, we shall soon see.
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So if we must have fuel, they (the cabals) must be paid monies for what they did not import. Its funny that the FG can't revoke their licenses and award same to a chinese company that will do it more effectively and at a lower cost. I think whats happening is that, these marketers are the loophole for politician to steal without being held accountable. Doing away with them means doing away with an avenue to loot, hence their retainment at the expense of the suffering Nigerians. Its pathetic how corrupt Nigeria is.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned,the so-called deregulation simplicita will not solve the problem. I jst cannot understand why this clueless govt. hasn't figured out how to efficiently operate our existing refineries or even build new ones to meet the growing demand for pet. products in Nigeria, when even smaller countries like Niger have built more efficient and functional refineries. With our abundant crude oil reserve, it is senseless to continue to import fuel while our people remain jobless!
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