The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has blamed the inadequate supply of petrol from the depots in Lagos for the scarcity being experienced in Abuja and other parts of the country.

According to IPMAN president Chinedu Okoronkwo in an interview on Monday, marketers and transporters find it challenging to take products to other parts of the country from the depots.

“The huge amount spent running the diesel trucks to transport fuel is very discouraging because we are running at a loss,” the IPMAN president said.

Mr Okoronkwo spoke against the backdrop of fuel queues returning to parts of the country, especially Abuja.

He added that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine also disrupted the smooth distribution of petrol.

“The current N165 per litre pump price for PMS cannot fit into the present realities without the pricing template being reviewed. We appeal to the government to look into the situation by either reviewing the freight rate or providing palliatives to all marketers to restore normalcy to distribution,” he explained. “The palliative can be making diesel accessible for marketers at discounted rates so that we can easily transport products across the country.”

Mr Okoronkwo commended the government for the bridging claims paid so far to marketers, adding that efforts should be made to clear the outstanding amounts. 

(NAN)