NUPENG, IPMAN speaks on fuel scarcity

NUPENG and IPMAN have urged Nigerians to stop panicking over fuel scarcity as there is sufficient product across the country.

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said this in separate interviews with NAN on Saturday in Lagos against the backdrop of the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country.

The association confirms that about six vessels of imported petrol ordered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) were currently discharging the product, assuring that the corporation has sufficient products.

Chinedu Okoronkwo, the National President of IPMAN, divulges that there was no need for panicking over fuel scarcity, as virtually all the NNPC depots across the states had commenced loading of petroleum product by marketers.

“Marketers are currently loading petrol in Makurdi, Kano, Enugu, Aba, Yola, Suleja, Kaduna, Ejigbo, Mosinmi, Ibadan and other depots across the country.

“The shortfall in distribution was due to the slow pace of product importation and hitches at the jetty which had been addressed.

“But the Federal Government is on top of the situation, there is enough of petrol to go round. I have also instructed all our members to ensure adequate distribution of the product across the country.

“I have also directed them to ensure that the product is sold at the official price of N145 per litre. If there are any issues on distribution and pricing differentials, members should call the secretariat for further action.

“The Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template has not changed, so, no marketer should influence hike or sell above official price,’’ he says.

Okoronkwo reaffirms the commitment of the association toward supporting the Federal Government’s efforts on effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.

He stresses further that IPMAN had so far reached an agreement with other marketers for better synergy in making the product available in the country.

“IPMAN which controls 80 per cent outlets, has more advantage in distributing and dispensing in both urban and hinterlands in the country.

“In line with the Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring efficient petroleum products distributed across the country, IPMAN members have opted for seamless distribution of petroleum products,’’ he says.

He notes that such synergy amongst members with the Federal Government would present a common front that would advance the interest of the group and ensure smooth distribution of the products across the country.