There are indications that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has formed a new alliance with the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) against scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) had earlier warned that Nigeria will run out of fuel in five days due to acute shortage of products from the delay in the first quarter fuel allocation by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulating Agency (PPPRA).
The duo of NNPC and IPMAN, have however, debunked the statement as misleading, advising the public to avoid panic buying.
IPMAN’s National President, Aminu Abdulkadri, who made the new alliance with the NNPC known at a media briefing, on Monday, denounced the rumour of proposed fuel scarcity, warning marketers against causing panic.
“We are lodging petroleum products adequately from all NNPC depots across the country and we don’t think there is any proposed scarcity because NNPC and PPMC have assured us of sufficient stock in the country,” Abdulkadiri said.
In spite of the unending challenges posed by pipeline vandalism and product theft in the country, he said, the NNPC and its subsidiary have sufficient stock of products in their marine reserve and national strategic reserve to ensure that the country remains wet with petroleum products round the clock.
He cautioned members of the public against any form of hoarding or panic buying of petroleum products in anticipation of scarcity.
“The fuel situation in the country is quite stable; no cause for alarm, this smooth supply of products had been sustained for a period of two-years.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, through the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, and the Managing Director, PPMC, Mr Haruna Momoh in conjunction with IPMAN president, we have been working tirelessly in ensuring we maintain the tempo,” he said.
According to Abdulkadri, “l want to assure our members that there is no cause for alarm, we need to step up our bridging in areas where products supply is lacking, and we should augment, because vandalisation of the products pipelines had been a serious menace in the country.
“NNPC, PPMC and the leadership of IPMAN have been on top of the situation; we should not encourage anybody that will portray the country bad by saying we are running out of fuel.
“What we have in the country currently is adequate. And we have equally agreed with the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) to ensure payment of marketers’ bridging claims as at when due, which at the moment, the agency is doing its best.
The IPMAN boss said that in furtherance to the realisation of democracy dividends by the Federal Government, the petroleum minister has agreed to sustain the supply of kerosene direct to Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday appealed to the Federal Government to step in and ensure timely approval of importation of petroleum products.
The Lagos Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Mr Tokunbo Korodo, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
The call by NUPENG is coming on the heels of similar appeals by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria and other interest groups in the oil sector.
“The danger in the delay is that it will cause artificial scarcity when you are not allocating as at when due.
“There is no way the distribution chain will not be disrupted and when the distribution chain is disrupted, it is going to affect the loading system at the depot.’’
According to him, if the loading system is affected there is nothing anybody can do about it.
“If it is not properly handled, then Nigerians will have to be on queue for hours before they get fuel.
Korodo said that although the year could be challenging for government because of the 2015 elections, priority must be given to things that must be done
“Government should be more proactive and do the right thing at the right time.
“We know that it is more challenging for government this time around but whatever they have to do to sustain the supply of petroleum product must be done.
“ I know this year is the year of politics but they should not abandon their responsibilities.
“They should face the primary assignment they canvassed for before they were elected into office,’’ he said.
Our Correspondent reports that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has yet to give approval for the importation of petroleum products this year.
PPPRA gives the approval every quarter.
The non-release of the approval had apparently rattled oil marketers, who expressed fear that the country may be in for another round of acute fuel scarcity.
However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured that fuel scarcity crisis was not about to occur in the country.
Oil-producing Nigeria has often faced fuel scarcity crisis but the administration of President Goodluck appears to have checked the problem in recent times.