President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to pay with immediate effect all outstanding monies owed to oil marketers so as to end the current gruelling fuel scarcity that has crippled the nation and caused untold hardship to millions of people.
This came as the fuel scarcity in Abuja and other cities worsened further, yesterday, despite assurances from the Federal Government of improved supply, as motorists experienced increased difficulties in their quest to purchase Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, from petrol stations.
The President who restated his commitment to Nigerians in Abuja, yesterday, said the public need not bear the burden of needless bureaucracy as is presently the case, and that they don’t need excuses but solutions which must be provided.
Consequently, petroleum marketers are, therefore, meeting Federal Government officials today with a view to resolving all outstanding issues leading to the current fuel crisis.
FG, marketers meet today
Okonjo-Iweala who spoke to journalists in Abuja, said the queues were due more to pipeline vandalism and logistics and not payment of claims to marketers.
Her words: “Government is very concerned about the fuel queues which have appeared in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country. As Nigerians can attest, the Petroleum Ministry and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, have worked very hard to give out the message that there is no need for panic buying and that it is trying to reduce the queues to the barest minimum.
“We are working with them and in fact, the marketers are coming to meet with us tomorrow (today).
We have also agreed to pay the interest rate and foreign exchange differentials.
“Tomorrow (today) we will be making part of that payment when the marketers are here and on the outstanding balance, we will be issuing SDN (Sovereign Debt Notes) to them so that the banks will know that the government has undertaken the obligations.”
According to the minister, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has also spoken with the banks so that all marketers who want to open Letters of Credit could do so, adding: “We have cleared with the marketers that this is how we will go about it.”
Scarcity not about payment issues—Okonjo-Iweala
Okonjo-Iweala said last December, the government paid N320.8 billion debt owed marketers. The money, she revealed, came from Excess Crude Account, which she said “shows the seriousness with which the government takes issues about payments to marketers.”
She insisted that the current fuel crisis was not over payments to marketers, adding: “I want to emphasize that contrary to some unfounded speculations, the queues are not caused by payment issues. As you know, we paid the marketers a total of N320.8 billion from the Excess Crude account in two instalments in December last year.
“This underscores the fact that we are taking payment of marketers very seriously indeed. We’ve been in constant touch and talking with the marketers and a week ago we reached an agreement with them on their core concerns which we have addressed.”
The minister commended members of the Major Oil Marketers Assoaiciation of Nigerian, MOMAN, who she described as very cooperative and urged Nigerians to question the motive of others who even refused to open Letters of Credit, LCs.
She said: “It is clear that while the union and most members have been cooperative, some of their members are not. Some of these people have even refused to open LCs to facilitate their payments.
“We salute the union and the members who are working hard to end this unfortunate situation. As for those who are working in the other direction, Nigerians should ask them what their motives are.”
Transporters hiken fares by 100%
Meanwhile, transporters have hiked their fares by over 100 per cent, as the fares within a short distance of Abuja city centre which used to cost N50 were increased to N100, while some charge N150.
Also, large numbers of commuters were stranded at bus stops and parks across the FCT, as only a few vehicles were seen on the roads.
Major roads in the FCT, especially traffic-prone areas, were virtually free, as the roads were almost deserted due to the fact that a large number of vehicles were parked at petrol stations hoping to get fuel while others left their vehicles at home after having run out of the commodity.
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Oh Nigeria. When are we going to stop importing and start refining? This has gone on for far too long.
ReplyDeleteThe chairman of pdp, Muazu said Apc is responsible for the scarcity. The president is saying bureaucracy. Okonjo is vandalism. Confusion don enter government o yepa! Deady bodi geti accident yepa! Double wahala for deady bodi and the owner of deady bodi. I can't wait for march 28th? Jonathan is a goner
ReplyDeleteI thought they said APC is the cause of the fuel scarcity.
ReplyDeleteThats the problem with PDP, before gathering themselves to face the real issues, they will first spend time fantacizing about the APC, accusing them of causing their problems.
ReplyDeleteNa Apc owe marketers and Na Apc no build and maintain refineries. Shame to all d past Govts
ReplyDeleteOk we don hear, what ever the problem is, pls fix it. GMB2015 for change! Stone your mother. Confused government
ReplyDeleteNigeria is already falling down the fiscal cliff. Serious economists will agree with me. Government regulations in various sectors are at loggerhead. Banks are not allowed to do lending like before. Infact any bank that does lend petroleum marketers is committing suicide. Oil and gas marketers loans are not performing because government failed to pay back. It is either the government is poor or the government is not sincere. GEJ! do the needful. Pay petroleum marketers, pay police.
ReplyDeletewhy are you saying GEJ do the needful... have ever seen him doing anything!!! they talk before they think. our change have come, we need something new!!! #bringbackourgirls
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