Business
Marketers Blame NNPCL Over Persisting Fuel Scarcity
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has blamed the persisting scarcity and price hike of Premium Motor Spirit on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) for shifting fuel supply from independent marketers to private tank farm owners.
Vice Chairman of IPMAN in Rivers State, Mr. Tochukwu Dominic, explained that marketers are supposed to get petroleum products directly from NNPCL depots at government regulated price of N148 per litre and not from private tank farms.
Dominic disclosed that buying products from private tank farm owner’s leaves them with no option than to fall to the dictates of private depots which in turn affects the consumers, as the depot owners sell to marketers at higher price.
He maintained that as much as marketers keep getting petroleum products especially from private depots, fuel pump price will still be on the increase.
“Scarcity of product is the root cause of the hike in fuel pump price. The NNPC has found comfort in dealing only with private tank farms. We (independent marketers) have no other option but to fall to the dictates of these private tank farms.
“NNPC is the sole importer of petroleum products and there is no competition, of which deregulation of PMS will usher in. We independent marketers are supposed to be getting the products directly from NNPC at N148per litre, which will enable us to retail at government approved price of N175.
“But we independent marketers cannot source the products directly from NNPC, so we are left with no option but to source from anywhere, so as to remain in business.
“The solution is for governemnt to expedite action on fixing the refineries.”
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.