The National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) have decided to take the 'bull
by the horn' as relates the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country by taking
a permanent remedial inititative in resolving the fuel scarcity.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, directed
the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the
NNPC to increase activities in the importation and distribution of
petroleum products. PPMC moved quickly and doubled its efforts in
making sure petroleum products are rapidly released from 19 ships berthing
at the ports.
Dr. Levi Ajuonuma,Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of
the NNPC, blamed the distribution of petroleum products on a number of
factors which include the recent strike by Petroleum Tanker Drivers in
Abuja, inability of 15 oil marketers to import fuel after being issued
import licenses by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency
(PPPRA), disruptions as a result of pipeline vandalism and the panic
buying by the public due to refusal of filling station owners and
operators dispense products from all nozzles because of the anticipation
of the deregulation exercise.
"All these have contributed in no small way to the challenge we are
facing," Ajuonuma explained.
The corporation also announced the acquisition of 178 petroleum products
retail outlets to support the 38 NNPC Mega Stations and 12 Floating
Filling Stations as part of its long term objectives and also combat
issues of fuel scarcity. The corporation assures the public of adequate
product supply for the Yeltude Season.
However, NNPC advises Nigerians and the security agencies to be extra
vigilant to prevent the ugly trend of pipeline vandalism which has become
a regular occurrence during in the country.
"What happened at Irepo village along the Lagos/Ibadan Express Road on
Tuesday is regrettable but thank God the fire service people were able to
put out the fire in good time. We must all rise up to this challenge",
Ajuonuma said.
The Oil marketers stand
Meanwhile, oil marketers disagree with the claims made by the management
of the NNPC that, it has an adequate stock of petroleum products to meet
public demand.
Mr. Femi Lawore, an official of the Major Oil Marketers Association of
Nigeria (MOMAN), disagrees with NNPC's claims that the current fuel
scarcity is due to the refusal of members of MOMAN and other petroleum
products marketers to activate their import licenses.
"Why is NNPC always in the habit of shifting blame over this issue? They
(NNPC) know the truth and do not want to say it," Mr. Lawore told
journalists .
"They have always claimed that they have the capacity to sustain over 40
day availability of products. I don't have any problem with that. But, if
they say they have about 19 ships at the port waiting to discharge
products, the simple way to confirm this is to look on the wharf and see
where those ships are berthing."
"The truth is that there is no such possibility, because the NNPC does not
have the storage facility to accommodate such volume of product imports."
However, he refused to give further details, promising to send a
formal response later.
Aminu Abdulkadir, President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers
Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), told journalists he would not comment on
the NNPC's statement until his MOMAN counterparts reacted.
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