IPMAN Explains Why There Is Fuel Scarcity In Some States
The Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has explained why there is fuel scarcity in Lagos.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Chairman of IPMAN Lagos Depot, Akinrinade Akinade said many IPMAN members were not buying the products because private depots have jerked up the retail price.
Akinade who revealed that the association had informed the appropriate authorities on the development, added that the situation might get worse if the authorities fail to intervene immediately.
He said;
“For some days now, the private depots have jerked up their ex-depot price and it will be difficult for our members to sell at the price they are selling to us and that is what accounts for the flash queues you are seeing now.
“We have contacted the authority. Since last Monday, the private depots just jacked up their price. If you buy at the rate they are selling now, you won’t make any profit.”
Also IPMAN, Western Zone, attributed the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit to the hike in private depot prices.
Chairman of IPMAN Western Zone, Dele Tajudeen, disclosed this an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Mr Tajudeen, while condemning the increase, said that there had been an increase in depot price of fuel from N148.17 per litre to N178 per litre since last week.
According to him, none of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) depots have products and the private depots took advantage of the situation to hike the price. He said:
“The only option for our members is to opt for private depots, to keep our business moving. We are totally against the increase because it will affect our profit margins and the masses.
“Some private depots who have the product, deliberately, refused to sell for reasons best known to them.”
He added that the marketers should not be blamed for the increase in pump price, adding that “selling at N170 per litre is not realistic”. Mr Tajudeen said,
“Therefore, our members have no other option than to sell between N195 and N200 per litre within Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, while we will sell between N200 and N210 in Kwara, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states.
Most of the tank farm owners have justified this increase because of different charges, among which is vessel charges, paid in dollars.
We are equally calling on the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to investigate the arbitrary increase in fuel price by the private depot owners.”
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However, a top official of the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), who preferred to be anonymous, told NAN that the scarcity was as a result of a shortfall in product allocation from the NNPC.
The source alleged that DAPPMA had some performance invoices with the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) which were still awaiting cargoes to get supplied.
According to the source, a large portion of product allocation was given to the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) because it is believed that they have a large reach of retail outlets.
“We have so many invoices before NNPC that have not been allocated. Ex-depot price has been between N162 and N163 per litre for marketers within Lagos and its environs, while between N164 and 165 for marketers outside Lagos like Calabar, Port Harcourt, Owerri and so on.
Some foreign vessels that came into the country refused to discharge, due to financial challenges. The shortfall in product can best be explained by NNPC and its agencies.”