Scarcity: NNPC Raises Hope
The lingering fuel scarcity may continue till next month, considering
marketers' insistence on being paid the balance of over N200billion
subsidy arrears owed them by the Federal Government.
It was learnt that the situation is getting worse because the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) can only meet 50 per cent of the
national demand and the oil marketers that supply the remaining 50 per
cent have refused to import since last month.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said the
Corporation has 25 days stock but noted that the scarcity got worse
because of the workers' strike. Alegbe said: "As we speak, we have 25
days sufficiency. Although we (NNPC) import only 50 per cent of
national demand, the scarcity is not supposed to be this severe. The
situation was worsened by the strike embarked upon by the Petroleum
and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and
the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). As a
result of this strike, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs) are not
lifting fuel. Also, members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of
Nigeria (MOMAN) have not imported a litre of fuel for a long time now.
"We have been on negotiation with the striking workers since Friday
and I hope the issue will be resolved before midnight today (Sunday)
and the strike will be called off. We explained to them (striking
workers) that this time is very wrong to embark on such strike because
Nigerians suffer the impact and it is not good for a smooth transition
expected in less than a week. We directed retail outlets to sell but
because the tanker drivers were not lifting, they didn't have product
to sell. The supply situation will certainly improve substantially
this week."
marketers' insistence on being paid the balance of over N200billion
subsidy arrears owed them by the Federal Government.
It was learnt that the situation is getting worse because the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) can only meet 50 per cent of the
national demand and the oil marketers that supply the remaining 50 per
cent have refused to import since last month.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said the
Corporation has 25 days stock but noted that the scarcity got worse
because of the workers' strike. Alegbe said: "As we speak, we have 25
days sufficiency. Although we (NNPC) import only 50 per cent of
national demand, the scarcity is not supposed to be this severe. The
situation was worsened by the strike embarked upon by the Petroleum
and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and
the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). As a
result of this strike, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs) are not
lifting fuel. Also, members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of
Nigeria (MOMAN) have not imported a litre of fuel for a long time now.
"We have been on negotiation with the striking workers since Friday
and I hope the issue will be resolved before midnight today (Sunday)
and the strike will be called off. We explained to them (striking
workers) that this time is very wrong to embark on such strike because
Nigerians suffer the impact and it is not good for a smooth transition
expected in less than a week. We directed retail outlets to sell but
because the tanker drivers were not lifting, they didn't have product
to sell. The supply situation will certainly improve substantially
this week."
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