Amidst fuel scarcity in Nigeria, more than 9,000 oil marketers are facing the imminent risk of losing their operational licenses.
In response, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is calling on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to extend the deadline for license renewal until July.
Additionally, IPMAN is appealing to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority to expedite the release of 9,000 licenses that have already been processed for its members. These requests were conveyed in a statement released by IPMAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, on Thursday in Abuja.
It is worth noting that IPMAN had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of license renewal for marketers by the NMDPRA, as stated in a Sunday statement.
NNPCL had set a deadline of April 15, 2024, for marketers to renew their licenses. Failure to do so would result in the closure of access to their customer express portals for purchasing petroleum products from NNPC Retail Limited.
However, IPMAN requested an extension, stating that it would allow marketers to reconcile their licenses and alleviate panic buying among the public, which worsens the current fuel scarcity.
According to the statement, “The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria is aware of the latest developments in the downstream sector of our petroleum industry. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has processed over 9,000 licenses out of the expected 15,000 for our members within this period.”
“Marketers are expediting the processing of their licenses to avoid the closure of their customer express portals for purchasing petroleum products from NNPC Retail Limited.”
“We appeal to the management of NMDPRA and NNPC Retail Limited to release the processed licenses and extend the deadline for delisting marketers from their express portals. Granting this request will alleviate panic buying among the public and ease the current fuel scarcity.”
In a telephone interview, Ukadike further clarified, “The appeal is for NNPCL and NMPDRA to extend the final deadline to July, allowing marketers to reconcile their licenses and prevent undue closure of access to the portal. This is IPMAN’s plea.”
In response, Cardoso from the NMDPRA stated that they would review the request and respond accordingly. “We will consider their request,” he mentioned during a conversation with our correspondent.
On Tuesday, IPMAN announced its intention to close down the 30,000 stations operated by its members nationwide if the Federal Government did not settle the N200 billion owed to marketers. IPMAN specifically pointed out that the NMDPRA had neglected to clear the debt, which had been accumulating since September 2022.
Our correspondent reached out to the NMDPRA South-West Regional Coordinator, Ayo Cardoso, regarding the marketers’ plea.
This was revealed in a statement issued in Abuja by Yahaya Alhassan, Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, concerning the outstanding bridging claims of marketers.
Fuel scarcity persists as commercial drivers in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, resort to keeping watch at fuel stations in their efforts to purchase the currently scarce Premium Motor Spirit.
On Wednesday, the Federal Government announced the commencement of a 15-day emergency fuel supply initiative aimed at ensuring the widespread availability of fuel across the country, immediately alleviating the scarcity.
The government further revealed that vessels transporting Premium Motor Spirit would continue to dock at the shore to offload petrol into various depots, from where it would be distributed to filling stations nationwide.
However, despite these assurances, residents continue to face difficulties accessing the product, with commercial drivers now resorting to keeping watch at filling stations in cities like Abeokuta, Lagos, and Oyo.
With fuel shortages persisting, many commercial drivers have been forced to turn to black market vendors who are selling petrol at exorbitant prices of N1,200 per litre or even higher.
Adio Adegoke, a commercial driver at Slaab filling station in Abeokuta, shared his experience with our correspondent, stating that he had resorted to sleeping in his taxi overnight in an attempt to purchase fuel. “I parked my car here since 7:30 pm yesterday when my tank ran dry. I spent the night at Divine Pax Oil and Gas Filling Station,” he recounted.
Lekan Ade, a mechanic, supported the claims of the taxi driver, adding, “I just purchased fuel there this afternoon for one of my customers. They are still selling it at the rate of N950 per litre.”
During our correspondent’s visit to the fuel station, apart from the rates being displayed on their meters, an attendant was also observed cautioning motorists to leave if they were unwilling to purchase the product at that price.
Another driver, Adeoluwa Onasanya, informed one of our correspondents that many individuals had spent the night at the filling station before finally obtaining the product.
The reporter noted that the ongoing fuel scarcity appeared to be a lucrative venture for black market vendors, as young men and women were observed along the roadside in areas such as Lekki, Ajah, and other parts of Lagos advertising fuel in jerry cans.
In the Egbeda-Idimu-Ikotun axis of Lagos, our correspondent observed that black market vendors were selling five litres of the product for N6,000.
A young man identified as Mr. John stated, “How much fuel do you need? We sell 5 litres here for N6,000. At the fuel station, they sell a litre for N1,200. We have to bribe the fuel station to obtain the product. I can provide you with any amount of litres you require,” he boasted.
The reporter witnessed a long queue of vehicles at the NNPC filling station along Cele Expressway selling fuel at N568 per litre, while the AP filling station at Barracks Bustop was selling fuel at N700 per litre, resulting in a lengthy queue of motorists vying to purchase fuel.
As queues persist at filling stations despite assurances from the government, Nigerians are concerned that the fuel crisis could lead to a loss of income sources.
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