FG urged to tackle scarcity, high cost of fuel

The Federal Government has been urged to “save Nigerians” from the current “agony” of scarcity of petroleum products.

The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Enugu Depot, Chinedu Anyaso made the appeal in an exclusive with Radio Nigeria on the high cost of fuel in the zone.

According to Mr Anyaso,  there is the need to resuscitate all the refineries across the country. Also, the Federal Government “should come out clear” on the issue of oil subsidy, so as to enable Nigerians to “plan their activities”.

He accused the NNPC of failing to supply fuel to independent marketers “for a  long time”, forcing them to source for the product from private tank Farm owners who sell at exorbitant prices.

He said as at December 31, marketers were buying the product at the cost of N237 per litre, in addition to paying N3 loading cost and N15 for transportation, which brings the landing cost to about N260 per litre, depending on location.

He  said it was regrettable that despite the high cost, getting the product was becoming “very difficult” as most private tank Farm owners were not selling to marketers.

The IPMAN Chairman blamed the latest development on the NNPC, which, according to him, “has the monopoly” of refining and importing the product into the country but “has not lived up to expectations”.

Mr  Anyaso insisted that had the NNPC been importing enough products as it always claimed,  petrol would be available and the price of the commodity would invariably be forced down.

He hinted that almost all the 21 federal government-owned depots  across the country have become moribund, including that of Enugu, which has not been operational for more than 20 years.

He, however, expressed the hope that  with promises from the new Managing Director, NNPC Retail, the narrative will change  within the shortest period.