The dreaded petrol queues have returned to the PMS dispensing stations in Lagos, Abuja and a few other cities in the country; and oil marketers have warned that it could all get worse from here unless the federal government pays up outstanding subsidy claims.
One oil marketer was quoted to have said by The Vanguard: “NNPC simply told the public their own side of the story, without reflecting our own concerns.
“We (marketers— majors, independents and depot operators) met with NNPC management, and we made it clear to the Group Managing Director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu that nobody has money to import anymore.
“We agreed that marketers will continue to do their best to ensure that products are available, but there is little we can do without money to bring in the products.”
In a nutshell, the marketers say until the federal government pays up outstanding subsidy claims by month end, intervenes for the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to release foreign exchange to marketers and intervenes with commercial banks to grant credit lines to marketers, the situation isn’t likely to get better.
On Tuesday, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had advised Nigerians not to engage in panic buying because the product was available in its tank farms.
NNPC blamed the return of queues at petrol filling stations on rumours of an impending scarcity, assuring that it has enough products to meet the demand of the country.
It also warned oil marketers not to engage in sharp practices, stating that anyone found wanting would be dealt with decisively.
The post Marketers promise another period of petrol scarcity as queues return to the gas stations appeared first on Ekekeee.