Fuel Shortage in Nigeria: Independent Marketers Demand Increased Allocation from NNPC
In a bid to alleviate the ongoing fuel scarcity in Nigeria, the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to increase fuel allocation to its members.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, Alhaji Hammed Fasola, IPMAN National Vice President, attributed the fuel shortage to low allocation. He suggested that if IPMAN members could purchase fuel directly from the NNPC, prices would become more affordable for Nigerians, thereby reducing queues at filling stations.
IPMAN members, according to Fasola, sell petrol at a higher price compared to other major marketers or depot owners, as they obtain the product at an exorbitant rate from third parties. He added that the association has presented its position on PMS allocation to the NNPC, requesting a 50% allocation as was the case in the past.
“Not that we don’t get at all, we are getting a little, and when you compare our number in this sector; our members own 80% of the filling stations. In the past, it was not like this,” Fasola said. “We had a share of 50% but recently, things have changed, and we are trying to talk to the authorities, especially the NNPC, that they have to correct that abnormality.”
The Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria is pressing the NNPC to rectify this disparity, which has led to higher prices at the pump. Fasola emphasized the importance of addressing this issue, saying, “We are still trying to address the issue. This is why the independent marketers are selling at a higher price, which is not good for our image.”
As the fuel scarcity continues to affect Nigerians, IPMAN’s call for increased allocation from the NNPC may bring relief to the consumers. The association’s efforts to persuade the authorities to correct the abnormal allocation and reduce prices will be crucial in addressing the ongoing crisis.
