The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN), has blamed the current fuel crisis on hoarding of the commodity by some depot owners and petroleum products marketers.
In a statement by its National Secretary Mr Danladi Pasali on Thursday in Abuja, it lamented that in spite the availability of the products in the country, some depots owners took advantage of the high demand of the commodity to create artificial scarcity in order to dupe Nigerians.
According to the statement, Pasali, speak after a brief meeting with officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He called on the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other regulators in the petroleum downstream sector to exercise their responsibility by increasing their supervisory role on the marketers at all levels.
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He reminded the NNPC of the hitches in the current distribution system which allows some depots owners to determine prices on products that belongs to NNPC.
He further assured the NNPC of its readiness to assist in ensuring smooth distribution once the products was made available to them and at the affordable prices.
“We are calling all our members that engaged in sharp practices to desist in doing so in the interest of the masses and country at large,” he said.
The IPMAN officials acknowledged the efforts of NNPC GMD, Dr Maikanti Baru and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Marketing Company, Alhaji Umar Ajiya for taking lead in restoring sanity into the system.
He also commended The NNPC for the revival of the Kaduna and Warri refineries, stating that it would encourage smooth distribution of petroleum products in some parts of the country.
