Don't Miss

Fuel scarcity: FG gives marketers 48 hours deadline

By BusinessNews Staff on March 10, 2014

The Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has 48 hours to end the fuel scarcity being experienced in Lagos and other parts of the country.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, gave the marketers the deadline to end the fuel queues.

To achieve this, the PPMC said it would supply about 110 million litres of petrol to various filling stations in Lagos on Monday.

The Executive Director, Commercials, PPMC, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, said this was geared restoring normal fuel supply.

Komolafe told journalists in Lagos on Friday that over 74 million litres of petrol had already been distributed in Lagos and its environs, adding that with the level of fuel distribution across the country, normalcy would return to filling stations by Monday.

He said that he had been directed by the minister to resume in Lagos and clear all queues in filling stations within 48 hours.

He explained that the PPMC had met with the NNPC, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, to ensure that the fuel scarcity was ended.

He said, “We have engaged all stakeholders including the NNPC, MOMAN, IPMAN, and the NNPC retail managers to find a lasting solution to the lingering fuel situation.

“The NNPC is expected to supply 50 per cent of petrol to the distribution chain, while other marketers supply 50 per cent. We have put in place measures that will ensure free flow of petrol in all filling stations in Lagos.”

Komolafe said that all hands were on deck to return normalcy to the fuel supply chain in the country.

He said, “We have put in some measures to halt what is described as artificially induced fuel scarcity noticeable in some parts of the country particularly in Lagos and its environs. It is pertinent to state for the umpteenth time that there is no plan by the Federal Government to increase the price of petrol.

“Once again, we appeal to marketers to refrain from hoarding and to members of the public not to engage in panic buying. We are convinced that in the days ahead, the fuel situation will normalise as there is enough petrol to go round.’’

Komolafe said that several vessels from major marketers had berthed to discharge petrol in order to increase fuel supply in the country.

“We have discharged a vessel, Alzea, with 30 million litres; Ocean Centrum, belonging to NIPCO with 22 million litres, and Vinte Entwerpriser, with 22 million litres. The vessels are currently discharging at Apapa, IBM Jetty, Capital Jetty and SPM Jetty in Lagos.”

He said that an additional 110 million litres would be discharged next week as part of the measures put in place by the NNPC to end the scarcity fuel scarcity in Lagos.

“While we intensify the ongoing direct monitoring of fuel situation across Lagos and its environs, we are providing extra volume of product to eliminate the noticeable queues arising from the induced scarcity,” he added

The Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, said that four vessels were expected to berth in Lagos ports this week.

He, therefore, gave an assurance of effective petroleum distribution to all stations across the country, and warned marketers to desist from hoarding the product.

He said, “We are still expecting more vessels from MOMAN, IPMAN, DAPPMA and other marketers to strengthen the existing supply. We implore members of the public to avoid panic buying and storing of fuel in residential areas. We will not hesitate to sanction any marketers found hoarding products.’’

The fuel scarcity worsened last week following the delay in releasing the import allocation for the first quarter by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency.

This, petroleum marketers said, led to the drying up of petroleum product stocked by most marketers and it triggered off a nationwide fuel scarcity.

The Chairman, South-West chapter, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, confirmed to our correspondent that most of the depots in the country were already empty, adding that the available product could not meet the national demand, hence the queues.

As such, many motorists spent long hours in queues at the few filling stations that had the product to sell while the petroleum marketers profiteered selling a litre of petro for as high as N200 in some parts of the country.

“Had it been that the government was proactive enough to give approval to them (marketers) in time, we will not be in this situation; and now, we should be thinking about the approval for the second quarter because this is March already,” he said.

In an attempt to arrest the situation, the NNPC on Thursday said that it supplied over 209 million litres of fuel to Lagos and other neighbouring cities in 24 hours (Wednesday).

The acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Dr. Omar Ibrahim, in a statement, said efforts were being made to return normalcy to the fuel supply chain in the country.

Ibrahim said several vessels were being allocated to the MOMAN to ensure the nation got enough product, adding that NIPCO, Conoil and others also had their vessels discharging to clear up the queues.

He was quoted as saying, “I can confirm to you that the NNPC has allocated additional vessels laden with petrol to MOMAN and other suppliers and they are currently discharging the products at Atlas Cove, Apapa, IBM jetty, Capital Jetty and SPM jetty in Lagos.”

He disclosed that other vessels were also discharging fuel at Port Harcourt and Oghara in Delta State, adding that the queues would thin out in the next few days.

[Punch]

headline