Scarcity of Petrol Hits Four NNPC Depots in South West

As the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) grapples with the challenges of ensuring adequate supply of petroleum products across the country, the Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has raised the alarm that only one out of the five NNPC depots in the south west is loading petrol to marketers.

Speaking to journalists during a joint press briefing with the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) at the agency’s office in Lagos, the Vice Chairman of IPMAN in the western zone, Mr. Kunle Bamgboye said the plight of IPMAN members has been compounded by inadequate supply by NNPC.

Bamgboye stated that out of five NNPC depots in the west about four have not been loading for the past one week.

"I can confirm that Lagos satellite depot of NNPC is not loading; Ibadan is not loading; Ilorin is not loading. In fact, Ore is a desert because nothing gets to Ore any longer, and we have thousands of marketers in that place,” Bamgboye said.

Bamgboye said the markets were facing the challenges arising from inadequate supply.

On the threat being issued by the DPR to sanction erring marketers, who sell above official price, Bamgboye stated that the issue should not just be a sanction, stressing that though it is right to punish, there should be enough ground to do so.

Speaking on behalf of the Director of DPR, the Deputy Director in charge of Downstream Alphosus Mudei stated that in the last few months, the nation has experienced epileptic supply of PMS which has reflected in the sale of the product above official pump price.

He said the marketers have benefited from the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) and should operate their businesses at a level that should guarantee constant and uninterrupted supply of products.

Mudei noted that some marketers have consistently flouted government's directives by selling above ex-depot price, which in turn translates to higher prices at the pump.

“This meeting is convened to reiterate the resolve of the Department of Petroleum Resources to ensure that henceforth, the DPR would not allow a situation whereby supply of PMS is dictated by private interests of marketers and dealers to the detriment of the Nigerian public, neither will the Department condone any act of selling PMS above official licensed facilities under any guise whatsoever,” he said..

“We therefore once more caution those of you who still engage in the practice of selling PMS and DPK above Government stipulated prices or who engage in acts of hoarding of these products, to desist from it in the interest of the public, the economy and your petroleum business,” he added.

Mudei reminded the marketers that DPR is capable of activating all conditions that may lead to the denial of any marketer from further participation in the PSF scheme and the withdrawal of licences of a facility.
“I think we are very ready and IPMAN even has to testify to the fact that they have not been having it easy with us and that was why they are appealing to us. To me I think there is no stronger evidence or confirmation of the fact that DPR has been very effective in doing it. Yes...there were isolated cases of DAPMA members or depot not being punished.
It is not because we refuse to punish them but probably it escaped our attention. We cannot say we are 100 percent effective but as far as I know, all those we have found in breach of our requirement have been punished. So that is how prepared we are and we are still going to continue on that,” Mudei added.

THISDAY