The Federal Government and major oil marketers have differed on the lingering fuel scarcity in major cities in Nigeria, especially Lagos State and FCT Abuja.
Jaybesttrends recalls that fuel scarcity began in Lagos earlier this week, and spread to neighboring states yesterday, with queues seen in various petrol stations that had the product to dispense
It was also reported that the scarcity resurfaced in Abuja despite that some filling stations were selling above the approved pump price.
Petrol stations owned by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) sold a liter of petrol between 169 Naira and 180 Naira, while a liter of petrol sold for above 200 Naira at other stations belongs to IPMAN members.
In a recent development, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) attributed the acute scarcity to the unavailability of the product at the Petrol stations, within the states.
In a recent chat on Thursday with a news correspondent in Nigeria, Abubakar Maigand, IPMAN National Vice President, said that most of the tank farms from which the marketers buy petrol were not selling to them again.
Mr Maigandi stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NPPCL) is not releasing products to independent marketers.
He added:
“For almost two weeks now, all our trucks are there waiting for the product in Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Warri.”
Maigandi further added that fuel station owned by major marketers are selling, but the ones belonging to IPMAN members had no product to dispense to the general public.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Winifred Akpani, explained that marketers paid through their nose to get the products.
She added that the marketers are heavily burdened with large charges which are denominated by foreign exchange.
Winifred Akpani stated that accessing foreign exchange at the official Central Bank of Nigeria rate was a serious challenge for marketers and was responsible for the price difference in petrol distribution in the entire country.
However, the Federal Government through the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), insisted that it has enough in stock that will last for more than one month.
In a statement titled “Petroleum Products Stock and Days Sufficiency Data,” the NMDPRA said the country has petrol in stock that would last for 33.17 days. check out Top 7 Best Smart TV’s Under 70k in Nigeria 2022
The government agency document has based its speculation on the average consumption of 60 million liters per day.
According to the document, land-based stock (closing stock) was 446,059,559 liters, while total stock (inclusive of dead stock) was 2,050,272,534 liters.
It added that marine stock at berth plus offshore was 1,544,253,042 liters, and the total stock less dead stock was 1,990,212,637 liters.