The Depot and Petroleum Products
Marketers Association (DAPPMA) says members’ depots are empty, maintaining that
they are not hoarding fuel and are therefore not responsible for crippling
crisis.
In a statement signed by Olufemi
Adewole, DAPPMA’s executive secretary, and shared with TheCable, the
association said there are always issues when the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) takes on the role of “sole importer” as it currently does.
“It is on record that any time
NNPC assumes the role of sole importer there are issues of distribution,
because it is marketers who own 80 percent of the functional receptive
facilities and retail outlets in Nigeria,” DAPPMA said.
“Historically, DAPPMA members
imported about 65 percent of the nation’s total fuel consumption. Major Oil
Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) imports about 15 percent and PPMC/NNPC
imports the balance of 20 percent.
“However this scenario changed
drastically due to several challenges faced by marketers.
“Our members’ depots are
presently empty. However, if the PPMC/NNPC can provide us with petrol, we are
ready to do 24-hour loading to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians and for
the fuel queues to be totally eliminated.”
The association said its members
would have to rely on subsidy to import fuel because the landing cost of petrol
is already above N145 per litre.
According to them, about 800
million litres of petrol have been ordered and paid for without it being programmed
or loaded.
“Sadly, some people have blamed
marketers for hoarding products. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth,”
they said.
“Hoarding is regarded as economic
sabotage and we assure all Nigerians that our members are not involved in such
illicit act.
“We, petroleum products
marketers, do empathise with all Nigerians who are going through difficulties
at this time by spending hours on fuel queues because of the current fuel
scarcity due to no fault of theirs.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
So government, who are the stakeholders holding the petrol? NNPC and it's ministers has not come out. Clean with this scarcity issue
ReplyDelete