SHUKROH BUSARI
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has advised the Federal Government to dedicate at least a depot solely to independent marketers, adding that such will bring down the price of petroleum products with easy distribution across the country.
P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the Chairman, IPMAN, NNPC Depot, Ore Western Zone of Nigeria, Engr. Shina Amoo. He noted that the independent marketers are finding it difficult to buy fuel at private depots because of the hike in price from depots and other necessary logistics.
This has made them to sell at a relatively higher price than expected from that of the depot owners, which has made them to either close up or lose their customers who intend to buy from depots at cheaper prices.
The chairman also opined that this new development and challenges have forced independent owners out of the market and made fuel distribution scarce in the country especially in remote areas.
He added that the Federal Government should make adequate provisions for independent marketers and IPMAN members because of these challenges.
He stated in his interview:
“The private depot owners are the ones supplying us. They sell to us at the same price they sell in their stations.”
He added: “The issue is NNPCL should try as much as possible to open a depot for IPMAN, where we can always make payments and get out products loaded at a reasonable price, otherwise the masses will continue to suffer where there are no major marketers within”.
In a related development, the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, faces a huge hike in some states including Abuja, where it is sold for N640 per litre.
The hike has caused serious tension, which has caused queues and heavy traffic in Abuja. Vehicle owners were said to be struggling to buy at N640 at some private stations and there is the rumour that it will rise to N700. On the other hand, some stations have shut down because of the high price rate.
However, the chief executive officer of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, gave the assurance of availability of petroleum in the country from NNPC.
The independent marketers, who have license to import the product, complained about the accessibility with the official dollar price and then costing them more to import the product
He also stated that they complained about the current pump price, which is not profitable because they cannot compete with NNPC, which is importing with the actual dollar price.