Fuel scarcity: We paid N90bn for products, received nothing, marketers allege

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association on
Thursday said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation lied when
it said DAPPMA members owe the oil firm N26.7bn.

According to DAPPMA, its members had, in the past one month,
paid over N90bn for petrol supply but had yet to receive any cargo
from the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of
NNPC.

On Wednesday, the NNPC attacked DAPPMA over a claim by the
association that its members had no petrol in their various tanks
despite NNPC’s claims of importing millions of litres of
products.

NNPC also stated that DAPPMA members owe it the sum of N26.7bn
for products received from the corporation, adding that the
statement credited to the association on the fuel supply situation,
especially Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) was “very
unfortunate.”

But in his reply to NNPC’s claims, the Executive Secretary for
DAPPMA, Olufemi Adewole, said it was unfortunate for the national
oil firm to attack and accuse marketers falsely.

In a statement issued by Adewola on Thursday, the association
said, “It is an undisputable fact that DAPPMA members have paid for
petrol supply (with bank funds) for over one month, the value of
which is in excess of N90bn, yet PPMC/NNPC had no cargo to allocate
to them.

“As such, how can we be held responsible for hoarding?

“PPMC/NNPC does not transact business with DAPPMA members on
credit, hence we are not aware of any indebtedness to PPMC/NNPC by
our members.

“We again reject any attempt to blame marketers for the
shortfall in supply, as it is not our making since NNPC has been
the sole importer since October 2017.”

Adewole said marketers had continued to sacrifice to keep the
country wet with fuel despite over N600bn debt owed DAPPMA members
and over N800bn owed marketers as a whole by the Federal
Government.

He said, “The essence of our initial press release was to shed
light on salient issues surrounding the shortfall in current petrol
supply which is presently solely handled by the NNPC. It was not an
attempt to join issues with PPMC/NNPC with whom we are
partners.

“NNPC’s view of our press release stating our side of the story
and seeking to defend marketers for the very first time against the
unwarranted accusations of hoarding and profiteering is rather
unfortunate.”

The association, however, assured Nigerians, irrespective of
NNPC’s stance, that all possible steps were being taken to
cooperate with PPMC/NNPC to eliminate the fuel queues nationwide
within the next few days.

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association on
Thursday said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation lied when
it said DAPPMA members owe the oil firm N26.7bn.

According to DAPPMA, its members had, in the past one month,
paid over N90bn for petrol supply but had yet to receive any cargo
from the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of
NNPC.

On Wednesday, the NNPC attacked DAPPMA over a claim by the
association that its members had no petrol in their various tanks
despite NNPC’s claims of importing millions of litres of
products.

NNPC also stated that DAPPMA members owe it the sum of N26.7bn
for products received from the corporation, adding that the
statement credited to the association on the fuel supply situation,
especially Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) was “very
unfortunate.”

But in his reply to NNPC’s claims, the Executive Secretary for
DAPPMA, Olufemi Adewole, said it was unfortunate for the national
oil firm to attack and accuse marketers falsely.

In a statement issued by Adewola on Thursday, the association
said, “It is an undisputable fact that DAPPMA members have paid for
petrol supply (with bank funds) for over one month, the value of
which is in excess of N90bn, yet PPMC/NNPC had no cargo to allocate
to them.

“As such, how can we be held responsible for hoarding?

“PPMC/NNPC does not transact business with DAPPMA members on
credit, hence we are not aware of any indebtedness to PPMC/NNPC by
our members.

“We again reject any attempt to blame marketers for the
shortfall in supply, as it is not our making since NNPC has been
the sole importer since October 2017.”

Adewole said marketers had continued to sacrifice to keep the
country wet with fuel despite over N600bn debt owed DAPPMA members
and over N800bn owed marketers as a whole by the Federal
Government.

He said, “The essence of our initial press release was to shed
light on salient issues surrounding the shortfall in current petrol
supply which is presently solely handled by the NNPC. It was not an
attempt to join issues with PPMC/NNPC with whom we are
partners.

“NNPC’s view of our press release stating our side of the story
and seeking to defend marketers for the very first time against the
unwarranted accusations of hoarding and profiteering is rather
unfortunate.”

The association, however, assured Nigerians, irrespective of
NNPC’s stance, that all possible steps were being taken to
cooperate with PPMC/NNPC to eliminate the fuel queues nationwide
within the next few days.