Depots owners, marketers say fuel scarcity will persist if...

the  Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMA) has said that scarcity of

petroleum products would persist if the Federal Government failed to pay marketers their outstanding subsidy claim.

    Executive Secretary of the association, Mr. Adewole Olufemi, made the statement in a telephone interview with press in Lagos.

  Olufemi said that the marketers had stopped importation of petroleum products because of outstanding subsidy claims and commercial banks refusal to offer members additional loans.

  “After the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and National Road Transport Association (NARTO) suspended their strike on May 25, all our depots were opened and we dispensed the little stocks therein.

  “Presently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is using our depots to distribute their products nation-wide.

  “But as we used to say, NNPC alone cannot do it; we have to join hands so that Nigerians will have enough products.

  “We have promised to support the government in other to put an end to this scarcity of petroleum products but banks have refused to give us loans because we have not paid the previous one.

  “Unless we commence importation of fuel and join hand with NNPC to eliminate the scarcity, there may not be an end to scarcity of petroleum products in sight,” he said.

  The secretary also urged the current administration to assist marketers by paying their outstanding subsidy claim to enable members to commence products importation. Feelers indicate that petroleum products scarcity may have returned in Lagos, as most petrol stations in some areas remained shut.

  Some motorists queued outside the petrol stations in spite of the operators' refusal to dispense petrol to the public. According to some motorists, they preferred to be on queue until the supply arrives because the station was reliable and would sell at government approved pump price.

  A businessman at Idumota market, Lagos, Mr. Tunji Adeyemi, said he would continue to queue because of his trust in the station.

  “This is one of the best stations in this area; they do not adjust their meter or sell above pump price.

  “That is why you see motorists waiting for the arrival of the truck,” he said.

  National Light gathered that out of eight petrol stations along Itire road, Lagos, only two were seen dispensing petrol at N120 per liter.

  One of the petrol attendants, who pleaded anonymity, said they were directed by their management to sell at N120 per litre.