Victor EzejaPresidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has indicated his preparedness to tackle issues that affect delivery of petroleum products to Nigerians, leading to bouts of scarcity witnessed in different parts of the country.
There has been a recurring scarcity of petroleum products in different cities across the country in the past six months. Currently, Lagos and Ogun States are experiencing an acute shortage of petrol as many outlets are closed having run out of stock. The few ones selling have increased the price to as high as N240 per litre, with long queues of motorists.
This has consequently caused a hike in transport fares in parts of Lagos, while many commuters are also stranded at bus stops.
A statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, Spokesperson, Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation, said the PDP presidential candidate sympathizes with Nigerians over the persistent fuel scarcity which has continued to make life very difficult.
The spokesperson said the Atiku/Okowa campaign has assured Nigerians of “realistic solutions to the perennial challenges of providing fuel”, which ought to be in abundance.
Ologbondiyan said Atiku has been consistent in advocating liberalization of the oil and gas sector to allow private investors to play active roles for efficiency and transparency.
Part of the statement read, “Atiku is prepared to block all leakages that have encouraged mismanagement and inconsistent delivery of fuel to Nigerians.
“Our candidate has been consistent on the need to liberalize the oil and gas sector by allowing private investors to engage actively in that sector while his administration will provide the enabling environment that will allow businesses to thrive.
“Atiku is the only candidate that has the political will to meet words with action and restore the required efficiency needed to make the oil and gas sector to perform transparently and optimally.”
Last week, the deputy National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Zarama Mustapha, blamed the scarcity of fuel on the challenges in accessing the product at depots and other logistics issues affecting the supply chain within the industry. Mustapha said such challenges make it difficult for marketers to sell at government-approved prices when they get the product.
Speaking on the ongoing fuel scarcity, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), disclosed at the weekend, that it was as a result of the delay experienced at the point of receiving products from offshore to onshore at the port.
The Chief Executive Officer of MOMAN, Mr. Clement Isong, said it had started working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, to improve the distribution of petrol nationwide.
“We are doing depot-to-depot check-in and check-out to enhance efficiency. We are also having logistic supply meetings with NNPCL. There is also collaboration among our members to cushion supply to various MOMAN stations.
“We arranged it in a way that any MOMAN member who does not have the product can pick from fellow members’ depot to minimise supply gaps. NNPCL had an operational meeting with MOMAN to ensure that products are effectively distributed across the country. The logistics meeting was to ensure adequate distribution of products to stations across the country,” Isong stated.
Meanwhile, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has called for quick intervention by the federal government in the lingering fuel scarcity.
DAPPMAN Chairman, Mrs. Winifred Akpani, said oil marketers were being subjected to payment of port charges in dollars for petroleum products imported into the country and stressed the need for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to comply with the federal government’s directive to end the practice.
Akpani said that oil marketers do not have equal access to forex through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) window, and the urged government to ensure a level-playing field in the sector.
“DAPPMAN hereby calls on the government to establish a level-playing field in the sector by giving petroleum marketers access to forex at the CBN exchange rate for their operations,” Akpani stated.
She stressed that accessing forex at the official rate would facilitate a steady supply of petrol in the country.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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