NCAA Summons Oil Marketers Over Supply of Adulterated Kerosene to Airlines

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday  summoned oil marketers to a meeting  over alleged supply of adulterated kerosene to airlines instead of the approved Aviation Fuel otherwise called Jet-A1.

This stemmed from allegations levelled against one of the oil marketers by  the six major oil marketers associations in Nigeria and the Association of Petroleum Products Marketers.

The major oil marketers hadprotested the alleged underhand dealings of  one of the oil marketers,  which they claimed endangers safety and the integrity of their business if not checked by the government.

The Director-General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, who confirmed receiving  the protest letter from the oil marketers,explained that   the meeting was called to hear from both parties the authenticity of the allegation. He added that it was unbelievable that a marketer would be selling adulterated fuel to airlines.

He said it was unbecoming when there were checks put in place to ensure that approved products were supplied to airlines.

Specifically, the  airlines accused one of the oil marketers of  selling Dual Purpose kerosene(DPK) to unsuspecting airlines as Aviation Fuel and that checks with Lloyd of London, which has the list of oil importers indicated that  the oil marketer never bought or imported Aviation Fuel in the past one year. It also confirmed that what the oil marketer has been importing was the domestic kerosene being sold at N40.90 per litre, which it  in turn sold to airlines as Aviation Fuel at N152 per litre.

The bodies, therefore, called for an high-powered panel to verify their claims so as not to endanger the lives of air travellers due to the inherent danger the use of domestic kerosene could cause.

Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) spokesman, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, said the allegation was unbelievable because there were technical checksput in place by airlines to ensure that they do not lift adulterated fuel or unapproved fuel for the safety of their aircraft.

He called for the setting up of a presidential panel or a panel by the NCAA with AON representatives to look into the veracity of the allegation and if found to be true.

He explained that the culprit should be prosecuted to serve as deterrent and if those that alleged were found to be spreading falsehood, then they should be   sanctioned.