IPMAN Holds NNPCL Responsible for Nationwide Fuel Scarcity

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting its members and the general public, placing the blame squarely on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). IPMAN, which represents over 3,000 members and controls a significant portion of Nigeria's filling stations, accused NNPCL of failing to provide sufficient supplies of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to its members. This shortage has exacerbated the fuel scarcity crisis across the country. Shina Amoo, the Chairman of IPMAN's Ore Depot, revealed that NNPCL, being the sole importer of petroleum products, has not adequately supplied IPMAN for the past three years, leaving many independent marketers in a dire situation.

“There is no supply anywhere. The available supply is poorly distributed. We have been raising concerns about this for a long time. We previously had an arrangement where we enjoyed a 70/30 supply ratio based on our capacity. Independent marketers are spread across villages and urban areas, yet we are not being considered in the supply chain,” Amoo lamented during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday. In response to the ongoing fuel crisis, NNPCL's Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, stated that the company is working diligently to resolve the supply challenges, assuring that the queues should clear by mid-week. However, Amoo criticized the bureaucratic delays that have become commonplace for IPMAN members dealing with NNPCL, stating that payment processes that once took a week now drag on for three to five months, forcing many marketers to rely on private depots that charge premium prices.

Amoo also accused NNPCL of sidelining IPMAN in favor of other groups, such as the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN). He argued that the current distribution pattern is unfair and insufficient to meet the needs of independent marketers. Furthermore, Amoo addressed the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies, attributing the skyrocketing prices to corruption within the downstream sector. He believes that eliminating corruption would lead to a significant reduction in fuel prices, benefiting both marketers and consumers.