Why fuel scarcity persists – Sources

There are indications that the persistent fuel shortage across the country is caused by the decision of some marketers not to lift fuel over impending price increase.

Sources who spoke to our correspondent on Friday stated that some filling stations were not selling in anticipation of a price increase ahead of the roll out of petroleum product from Dangote refinery.

A newspaper (not Daily Trust) had reported that independent marketers were anticipating the premium motor spirit (pms) to be sold at N600 per litre when it’s finally rolled out.

But the management of Dangote refinery clarified that the speculation that marketers expect the refinery to sell petrol at N600 per liter is not reflective of the refinery’s position while also denying fixing price at that price.

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“We would like to clarify that Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is not our business partner yet,” said Anthony Chiejina, spokesman of the Dangote Group.

Our correspondent learnt that despite the denial by Dangote, some marketers were hoarding fuel in anticipation of the price hike.

Daily Trust learnt that the Nigerian Midstream and Donwstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has threatened to shut down filling stations that refuse to dispense fuel.

However when contacted, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Olufemi Shoneye, said there is enough supply as far as NNPC is concerned.

“In terms of supply, I can confirm that we have supply,” he simply said when contacted on Friday.

Reports from across the country on Thursday indicated that the scarcity persisted with long queues in a few major filling stations that are dispensing fuel while a litre is almost hitting N1000 at independent filling stations.