Tina Amanda
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN, Rivers State, has frowned at the reoccurrence of fuel scarcity when the Christmas season is getting closer.
IPMAN State Chairman, Dr. Joseph Obele, maintained that the nation has continued to witness fuel scarcity during the weeks leading to the Christmas holidays.
According to him, such situations always trigger transportation hikes which results in travellers paying twice the transportation cost to their holiday destination.
“Fuel scarcity showing up whenever we are getting closer to the Christmas season is unfair to the Christian community in Nigeria.
“In the past years, fuel scarcity has become a feature of every yuletide holiday, except for some exceptional occasions.
“At the moment, fuel scarcity challenges have started popping up in cities like Lagos and Abuja from last month.
“The petrol pump price is selling above #700 to #800 in some states, but in Rivers State, it is selling between #630 to #680.
“The stocks are not really available at depots for Marketers to buy, hence marketers are sourcing it from far and near at outrageous cost”.
Dr. Obele said further that the public should not blame Petroleum Marketers for the recent increment at retail points.
“We really discourage panic buying and stocking of petroleum products in our homes.
“NNPC Management has promised sufficiency and we are yet to see the sufficiency. The truth of the matter is landing cost for importation is becoming unbearable, thus causing the supply gap”.
