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NNPC to eliminate illicit kerosene trade with new scheme

By BusinessNews Staff on January 28, 2015

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that its deployment of a new direct-sales scheme termed ‘kero-correct’ in the sale of household kerosene to domestic consumers would finally put an end to the operation of ‘black marketers’ of the product across the country.

The corporation’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Joseph Dahwa, said at the inauguration of the scheme in Abuja that while it aims to sell kerosene to domestic consumers at a subsidised price of N50 per litre and at a 25 -kilogramme quantity per consumer, the deployment of independent observers is expected to guarantee transparency in the operations of the scheme.

The independent observers, Dahwa explained will include local non-governmental organisations that are tasked to sensitise consumers of the product on the benefit of the scheme and its workings.

“Household kerosene is a very important commodity in every household in Nigeria. As a major domestic cooking fuel, kerosene has now become indispensable to virtually every Nigerian family. However, despite the importance of this commodity to Nigerians, accessing kerosene at the correct price has been a challenge over the years,” said Dahwa.

He further stated that: “The Kero-Correct scheme is aimed at making kerosene available, accessible and affordable in all NNPC mega and affiliate stations across the country.

“It is our expectation that this scheme will enable Nigerians access this essential commodity at the right price, right quality, right quantity and at all times,” he added.

He said the corporation was committed to eliminating illegal middlemen in the sale of the product.

“We are committed to ensuring the elimination of the kerosene black market so that Nigerian consumers can buy kerosene at the correct price of N50 per litre. We know this will be challenging, but with the unwavering support and assurance of government through the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, we are confident that the objectives of this laudable scheme will be achieved,” he added.

“The scheme would not succeed without strategic partnership with critical stakeholders. In this regard, the management of NNPC is collaborating with credible NGOs to embark on an aggressive sensitisation and monitoring of the programme to ensure seamless and transparent distribution and sales of kerosene at the correct price at all our stations,” Dahwa said.

The corporation’s mega and affiliate retail outlets, he explained would remain unrelenting in ensuring that: “Our mothers and sisters who daily struggle for this product have easy access to kerosene going forward.”

[ThisDay]

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