The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has urged the federal government to give priority to the revitalisation of the four refineries in the country ahead of the removal of the subsidy on petroleum products.
Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, Budget and National Planning, and her counterpart in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva had Monday at a meeting with President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan held at the National Assembly stated that Nigerians would continue to enjoy subsidy till the end of June as they noted that there was provision for subsidy payment in the 2022 Budget till the end of June.
But in a statement obtained by journalists, the President of IPMAN, Alhaji Debo Ahmed, who gave the advice on Wednesday noted that it would guarantee more domestic supply of petroleum products in the nation.
The IPMAN President also appealed to the federal government to ensure the availability of petroleum products to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited depots across the country as he noted that selective supply to private depots is “making it impossible for the product to be sold at the government upper price band.”
Ahmed restated his association demand for payment of outstanding Bridging Claims owed marketers by the defunct Petroleum Equalisation Fund now operating under the name, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.
His statement read in part: “The leadership of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, commends the Federal Government for the suspension of the removal of fuel subsidy. We reiterate our position that the four nations’ refineries be repaired and allowed to function optimally before the removal of fuel subsidy.
“We also use this opportunity to call on the federal government to resume the supply of petroleum products to NNPC depots nationwide as against the selective supply to private depots making it impossible for the product to be sold at the government upper price band.”
He added: “Our huge funds are tied up with PPMC Ltd, a subsidiary of NNPC, where members pay for NNPC products supplied to their depots. We are equally pleading that marketers transportation claims be paid to allow members remain afloat in business.”
Source: Vanguard
