The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has raised concerns over inadequate Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supplies from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), exacerbating the current fuel scarcity across the country.
Engr. Shina Amoo, Chairman of IPMAN’s Ore Depot, revealed these issues during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Morning Brief’ on Tuesday.
Amoo highlighted that NNPCL, the sole importer of petroleum products, has failed to provide sufficient supplies to its members for the past three years.
“There is no supply anywhere. For now, the only supply available is not well distributed,” he said.
He criticized the current distribution pattern, which he claims does not consider IPMAN members adequately.
He explained that previously, IPMAN enjoyed a 70/30 supply arrangement, but now, many members struggle to obtain products at all.
“If you go to areas like villages and urban areas, you will see lots of independent marketers where you would not find any major or semi-major marketers. But now, we can’t even talk of IPMAN when it comes to supply.”
Amoo lamented that IPMAN members are forced to purchase fuel at premium prices from private depots due to NNPCL’s delayed and inconsistent supply.
“We are getting them at premium prices… between N750 to N850 per litre,” he said, noting that products are often priced higher than the N560 per litre rate from NNPC.
He criticized the bureaucratic hurdles that lead to long wait times for product deliveries, sometimes extending up to five months.
He also pointed to corruption and the removal of fuel subsidies as factors driving up prices.
“The major problem is fuel subsidies, and NNPCL as the sole importer,” Amoo stated, adding that if corruption were eliminated from the downstream sector, prices could be driven down.
Amoo’s comments underscore the growing frustration among independent marketers and the broader impact of supply issues on the fuel market.