The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria
(IPMAN) says the distribution crisis caused by vandalism of depots belonging to
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited should be blamed for
petrol scarcity in parts of the country.
Chinedu Okoronkwo, IPMAN president, spoke on Tuesday during
an interview on Channels Television.
In the last few days, many Nigerians have been grappling
with petrol scarcity as queues have surfaced in filling stations across the
country. Some stations sell petrol above N230 per litre while the black market
price is as high as N300.
Amid the scarcity, there have been insinuations that oil
marketers may be hoarding the product to force a hike in the price.
Speaking on the development, the IPMAN president denied the
claim that oil marketers are to blame.
Okoronkwo explained that since 80 percent of NNPC depots
have been vandalised, the product is now being kept in the depots of private
individuals, who bear the cost of transporting the product from the ports to
their depots.
“I think I want to debunk it. It is very important to know
where we (IPMAN) belong within the chain. This product – PMS – is the product
the government is still paying subsidy for, that is government brings it in –
NNPC,” the IPMAN president said.
“Remember that nearly all the NNPC depots are not working,
over 80 percent of them, because of vandalism. We have at least 21 (referring
to NNPC depots) that I can count. When they bring this product in, they now
begin to put it in private depots and pay them triple charges.
“When this product is pumped into those depots, the owners
of depots claim to have ownership. Our members cannot easily access this
product. They are now made to buy from tank farm owners, that is the third
party.
“When this product is gotten from the mother vessel, those
tank farm owners will go and bring it. They will now put their cost. You don’t
expect them not to break even. These are the people who will now in turn sell
to us.
“Those who get from NNPC directly, it is N148.19 per litre.
These private tank farm owners, by the time they begin to put their own
charges, which involve hiring vessels, NIMASA, NPA, and a lot of things
associated, from their depots, you can get it for either N185 or N210.
“Their excuse will be
they hire vessels to take the product from the mother vessel and some of these
things are dollarised so you have no choice.”
Speaking on the availability of the product, the IPMAN
president said NNPC has enough in stock.
“Those who have the muscle and everything still buy it. This
product is there it is because of what I just said. NNPC has enough stock but
because of this distribution something which we need to do something about this
situation,” he added.
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