By Enyeribe Anyanwu
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has lamented the inability of its members to load fuel from Dangote Refinery despite paying N40bn to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Reacting to the statement yesterday by Aliko Dangote that independent marketers were boycotting his facility while preferring importing fuel, the President of IPMAN, Abubakar Garima, expressed surprise at Dangote’s statement, saying that the marketers have not been importing fuel and are eager to source Dangote’s locally- refined product but have faced enormous obstacles because of NNPCL’s activities.
Garima who spoke on Channels TV recounted instances where marketers were sent to load fuel at Dangote Refinery by NNPCL only to be left stranded for days with empty trucks, after paying N40bn to NNPCL to access Dangote’s refined fuel. He expressed frustration over the prolonged wait and obstacles faced by marketers at the refinery.
“We have over 40billion naira in outstanding debt with NNPCL. I was surprised when Dangote said he has over 500million litres of PMS. We are ready to buy the product from Dangote if he’s prepared to sell it directly to us,” Garima stated.
He said if Dangote indeed had 500 million litres in stock, they are ready to purchase it, as that would effectively address their current issue.
He urged Dangote to consider registering independent marketers directly to ensure smoother loading procedures, saying “If he (Dangote) can sell the product directly to us, we can buy the product because we have to pay before we pick.”
The IPMAN President said allowing independent marketers to lift petrol directly from Dangote Refinery will ease the lingering fuel scarcity and stabilize prices.
Photo Credit: TheCable
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