Marketers give reasons for fresh fuel scarcity

Oil marketers in the country under the aegis of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, (PETROAN) have attributed the latest scarcity of petrol to the non-supply of the product by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The statement followed the return of queues in fuel stations across the country with some marketers selling a litre of petrol for as high as ₦1,000 at the weekend.

Some filling stations were however not selling the product as black market marketers were having a field day.

The development has led to an increase in the cost of transportation.

The President of (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, who featured in Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, said the marketers are currently supply-constrained and could only distribute what they have.

He said: “I think until we get our supply challenges sorted out efficiently and abundantly, we will not be able to get out of this circle.

READ ALSO:NMDPRA cracks down on illegal fuel sales amid scarcity

“I believe you must have heard the NNPC’s communications director who explained that the issues at stake are still logistics-related.

“So until they get that resolved, we may just be managing the little they bring, and give to us to distribute among our members.

“NNPCL is doing its best to bring in products bit by bit, and we can only supply what we have.”

When asked to give further explanation on what the logistics challenges were all about, Gillis-Harry added: “The logistics issue is about ship-to-ship transfer. Until the ship gets products, it cannot deliver to any of the depots. And until depots have products, we the retailers cannot also have access to products.”

He, however, assured that marketers were in talks with the NNPCL over the supply challenges.

“We have been speaking with NNPCL. We encourage them to do more, and I can assure you that they are trying their best,” the PETROAN chief stated.

By: Babajide Okeowo

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