The
Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) on Tuesday
expressed concern over the inability of Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) to send petrol to its members’ depots.
DAPPMA’s
Executive Secretary, Mr Olufemi Adewole, in a statement in Lagos, urged
NNPC to help the Association so as to alleviate the suffering of
Nigerians.
“Our members’ depots are presently empty. However, if
the PPMC/NNPC can provide us with petrol, we are ready to do 24-hour
loading to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians and for the fuel queues
to be totally eliminated.
“We, petroleum products marketers, do
empathise with all Nigerians who are going through difficulties at this
time by spending hours on fuel queues because of the current fuel
scarcity due to no fault of theirs.
“DAPPMA members import about
65 per cent of the nation’s total fuel consumption, Major Oil Marketers
Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) imports about 15 per cent and PPMC/NNPC
import the balance of 20 per cent.
“However this scenario changed drastically due to several challenges faced by marketers," he said.
The DAPPMA official claimed that their members pay PPMC/NNPC in advance for petroleum products.
He
said fully paid-up petrol orders which have neither been programmed nor
loaded is in excess of 500,000MT (about 800,000,000 litres).
“As
at today, there is enough petrol to meet the nation’s needs for 19 days
at a daily estimated consumption of 35,000,000 litres.
“Sadly, some people have blamed marketers for hoarding products. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth.
“Hoarding is regarded as economic sabotage and we assure all Nigerians that our members are not involved in such illicit act.
“While
all kinds of allegations have been made in the media, it is important
to set the records straight, as Nigerians first, and as responsible
business men and women who employ Nigerians.
“As it stands today, NNPC has been the sole importer of PMS into the country since October,’’ Adewole said.
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