Fuel scarcity, which had disappeared since April, resurfaced yesterday in Lagos and some parts of Ogun State with long queues at several retail outlets.
It was learnt that there was a huge supply deficit because some oil marketers refused to import the product, leaving only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as the sole importer of premium motor spirit (petrol).
A marketer told our correspondent in confidence that demand far outstripped supply, adding there were over 200 retail outlet owners who had paid for petrol in the last three months but could not get supply.
The marketer said his colleagues told the NNPC that they did not have money, besides being owed over N200 billion in verified subsidy claims.
He said this was why many marketers could no longer import fuel.
“It is only the NNPC that currently imports, and its focus is on Abuja and Lagos. Other states have been experiencing scarcity in the last three months. Fuel trucks from such states have been flooding Lagos, creating pressure on supply. Some of the truck owners have paid for fuel in the last two to three months but have not been able to load.
“Some depots sell to fuel truck owners at between N85 and N86 per litre instead of the regulated price of N77.66 per litre. So, it would not be a surprise to see some filling stations selling above the regulated pump price of N87 per litre,” he said.
But NNPC’s spokesperson Ohi Alegbe debunked the claims.
He said NNPC, through the Products and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC), had been importing and supplying marketers the fuel for distribution to consumers.
Alegbe accused some marketers of sabotage to create the impression that there is scarcity.
He said: “It is the NNPC, through the PPMC, that has supplied the nation premium motor spirit (PMS) over the seasons. PPMC has sufficiently wet the country with fuel and we have more than enough stock to go round. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has been advised to ensure that marketers don’t divert or hoard products.
“We use our depots in other states. Therefore, to state that we focus on Lagos and Abuja is incorrect. To frustrate the efforts of the government, some of the marketers deliberately refuse to dispense fuel to create artificial scarcity.”
He said there was a contention about subsidy and the controversy over volume of PMS consumed across the country. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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