Ex-IPMAN’s Scribe Advises NNPC On Fuel Scarcity

A former Secretary of the Ibadan Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Folorunsho Alake, has advised the NNPC on steps to take to end the current fuel scarcity.
Alake, who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, on Thursday told the NNPC to revive its depots nationwide for smooth distribution of petroleum products.
He said that even distribution of petroleum products would reduce unending queuing of petrol tankers in Lagos depots, end sharp practices and scarcity of fuel.
Alake said the NNPC depot in Ore, Ondo State used to serve independent marketers in Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and parts of Edo, noting that all the marketers now head to Lagos to load products.
The former secretary said that apart from the hike in the ex-depot price, loading of petroleum products was a nightmare for marketers in Lagos.
“After shutting the Ore depot for maintenance for close to eight years, tanker drivers charged additional fee between N5 and N7 per litre to move the product from Ibadan or Lagos.
“For close to 21 days now, I’ve been buying the product in Lagos private depots between N92 and N95 per litre just to ensure the product is available for the people in my town.
“I have more than 10 filling stations in Ekiti, Ondo and Osun states but getting the ex-depot price at N77 per litre in private depots has been the problem.
“We have said the use of private depot facilities cannot help in the control of official pump price of petroleum products to independent marketers.
“The best solution to this recurring scarcity is to start pumping the product through the 16 NNPC depots nationwide.
“We are aware that vandals are always siphoning products but the security agents should be combat- ready to deal with situation.
“The vandals are not ghosts and they work hand-in-hand with some government officials because it is difficult to know what the NNPC is pumping if there is no insider,” he said.
Alake stressed that the current efforts by the NNPC would put an end to the scarcity of the product by weekend.
He also told the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to ensure that the product was sold at ex-depot price of N77 per litre to all.
The unionist said the current scarcity was artificial, due to the hike in the ex-depot price.
“If private depots sell at the official ex-depot price, marketers will lift and sell at the official price,” he said.