Fuel Scarcity: Marketers Beg NNPC For Supply, Say ‘Our Depots Are Empty’

The Depot and Petroleum Products
Marketers Association (DAPPMA) on
Tuesday expressed concern over the
inability of Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to
send petrol to its members’ depots.
DAPPMA’s Executive Secretary, Mr
Olufemi Adewole, in a statement
made available to journalists in
Lagos, urged NNPC to help the
Association so as to alleviate the
suffering of Nigerians.
“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.
“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.
“DAPPMA members import about 65
per cent of the nation’s total fuel
consumption, Major Oil Marketers
Association of Nigeria (MOMAN)
imports about 15 per cent and
PPMC/NNPC import the balance of
20 per cent.
“However this scenario changed
drastically due to several challenges
faced by marketers,” he said.
The DAPPMA official claimed that
their members pay PPMC/NNPC in
advance for petroleum products.
He said fully paid-up petrol orders
which have neither been
programmed nor loaded is in excess
of 500,000MT (about 800,000,000
litres).
“As at today, there is enough petrol
to meet the nation’s needs for 19
days at a daily estimated
consumption of 35,000,000 litres.
“Sadly, some people have blamed
marketers for hoarding products.
Unfortunately, this is far from the
truth.
“Hoarding is regarded as economic
sabotage and we assure all
Nigerians that our members are not
involved in such illicit act.
“While all kinds of allegations have
been made in the media, it is
important to set the records
straight, as Nigerians first, and as
responsible business men and
women who employ Nigerians.
“As it stands today, NNPC has been
the sole importer of PMS into the
country since October,’’ Adewole
said.
Source:DPN.