Though NNPC has fuel stockpiles, it can’t effectively distribute nationwide—Expert
Even though the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) claims it currently has over 170mn litres of petrol stocked in own depots nationwide, there is need to reach deal with aggrieved marketers as only NNPC cannot saturate the country alone.
In an interview with Alhaji Saidu Baba, a product distribution consultant in Port Harcourt, he said “The option for government is to reach amicable deal with the marketers as no matter how stocked NNPC would be, it cannot saturate the entire country with products during the yuletide”.
He said government should do more in raising the amount so far put on the table of negotiation for the marketers they had earlier rejected the N340bn promissory note offered by government as part payment of the debt to avert another round of fuel supply crisis.
Trouble had started when the marketers hinted of the uncertainty that may befall the nation as a result of the unresolved N800bn subsidy debt dispute between them and the federal government.
Business Hilights recalls that on Sunday, the marketers, under the aegis of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and the Independent Petroleum Products Importers (IPPIs), had said they were poised to ground the fuel supply system if government did not pay the outstanding debts in cash within seven days.
Though the expiration of the deadline comes up tomorrow, Saturday, the Senate at Plenary on Thursday, called on marketers to give the Federal Government more time to resolve the impasse.
