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Tag: Fuel scarcity

  • Disregard rumour of fuel scarcity, NNPC tells Nigerians

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) says trending social media report of an impending fuel scarcity due to purported refusal by some oil marketers to lift products from depots was false.

    The NNPC in a statement, in Abuja, on Friday by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu appealed to Nigerians to disregard the rumour.

    He explained that the tale was fabricated by mischief makers with intent to create undue panic in the prevailing sanity in the fuel supply and distribution matrix across the country.

    He said that the NNPC has over one billion litres of petrol in stock while Imports of 48 vessels of 50million litres each have been committed for the month of April 2019 alone.

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    He noted that there was no need for panic buying or hoarding of petroleum products in anticipation of a phantom scarcity.

    Ughamadu reiterated that the pump price of petrol remained N145 per litre.

    A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja revealed that few queues were building up in some filling stations at the Central Business district but most station around the city still run normal services to motorists.

  • NNPC allays fear over fuel scarcity

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) has assured that there is enough fuel in the country and that there is no need for panic buying of petroleum products by motorists and the public.

    The corporation disclosed this in a statement issued by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, It’s spokesman, in Abuja, on Friday.

    This, followed reports of an ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over a purported intervention by an arm of the security agencies in what the union viewed as purely labour matters involving a company and its workers in Delta State.

    He added that the corporation’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru and his Management team, were engaging the parties involved, saying the parties are close to resolving the issues.

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    Ughamadu in the statement advised motorists and other consumers of petroleum products not to engage in panic buying as the NNPC Management was close to reaching an amicable resolution of the challenge.

    NNPC assured that the corporation had adequate storage of petroleum products across the country and advised that they should not entertain any fear of petroleum shortages.

  • Oil marketers warn on looming fuel scarcity

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said it is concerned about the looming fuel scarcity due to non-availability of petroleum products at the depot.

    In a communiqué, the Chairman of IPMAN Ibadan Chapter, Alhaji Raheem Tayo, said the association was worried about the situation of fuel supply in Ibandan, Oyo State capital, which had persisted in spite of the intervention of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Tayo said the Federal Government  had made substantial re-investment through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to resurrect the Ibadan depot, which had been moribund for more than two years.

    According to him, the development culminated in the inauguration of the depot by the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, last October 4.

    Tayo also said with the inauguration of the depot, followed massive pumping of petroleum products, mainly premium motor spirit (PMS) to the depot, which directly led to increased activity.

    Tayo said: “The loading of petroleum product was so well unhindered, thus wetting all the nooks and crannies of the depot’s jurisdiction of operation, which eventually led to cessation of fuel scarcity.

    “The primary factor that made the depot go under for some years was because of pipeline vandalism. Pipeline vandalism seems not to have been well taken care of as its resurgence becomes more daring thereby threatening another total closure of the depot with serious consequences to the supply of petroleum to the depot.

    “Loading activities, which was on the high side, progressively reduced on daily basis up until July 26, 2018 when loading activities stopped at the NNPC Ibadan depot.’’

  • ‘How we checked fuel scarcity, by marketers

    Marketers under the aegis of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) have given insights into how they helped to reduce fuel scarcity in the country.

    The marketers include Oando, Forte Oil, Mobil, and MRS.

    In separate interviews, the marketers said they collaborated with the Navy, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD),  the National Association of Road Truck Owners (NARTO) and others to reduce the traffic that was preventing tanker drivers from supplying fuel in time.

    They said there were many tank farms, loading bays and jetties in Apapa, adding that tanker drivers spent days on queue to load fuel.

    MOMAN Chief Security Officer Colonel Adesanya (retd) said the marketers set up a committee, adding that the committee and the Navy collaborated to reduce gridlocks in Apapa and its environs.

    He said decongesting the road was the first assignment undertaken by the Navy and the committee.

    According to him, the Navy introduced a call card system, through which truck drivers were given cards that would enable them to load fuel and leave the loading bay immediately for others.

    He said: “Since the Navy took over the clearing of tankers and other vehicles that are causing traffic in Apapa, vehicles, especially fuel tankers, have been moving freely. The call card was signed by the Navy, to enable it authenticate the tankers that have either loaded or are due for loading. Through this, the Navy and the marketers were able to reduce the traffic on the roads and the number of hours spent by tanker drivers before they supplied fuel.

    ‘’Fuel tanker drivers spend a lot of time at the jetties in Apapa, before they load. The development has resulted in fuel scarcity, as tanker drivers do not supply fuel to the end users in time. However, the collaboration between the Navy, the marketers and other agencies have helped in reducing the scarcity.’’

    He said reducing the turnaround time for loading of fuel and supplying it had helped to checkmate  scarcity.

    Adesanya, also the Head of Security of MRS, said the drivers would not have been able to speed up the process of supplying fuel, if they were not given cards by the Navy, with a view to reduce the time they are wasting in Apapa, where they are loading petroleum products.

    Also, MOMAN’s Head, Safety and Health Committee, Dr Oyet Gogorima, said the call up card issued to taker drivers made their work schedule samplers.

    He said the idea  has reduced vehicular congestion at the loading bay and the jetties, stressing that the issue has fasten the process of loading and distribution of fuel.

    He said the usual traffic in Apapa has reduced, because drivers comply with the directives of the Navt and other agencies in the area.

    He lauded the  Commander, NNS Beecroft Commodore Okon Eyo for his helping to clear the gridlock in Apapa, stressing that traffic has eased up in the area greatly.

    He said the issue has resulted in seamless operation of tanker drivers, as well as making commuting in the area  hazles free.

  • Edo, others avert fuel scarcity

    The intervention of the Edo State government and other stakeholders has averted a major fuel scarcity in the state following the crisis between factions of the Benin depot branch of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

    A faction of the feuding Benin IPMAN is led by Johnbull Asemota, a former PTD’s leader; the second camp is under the supervision of Douglas Iyike.

    The dispute worsened when the national body, in solidarity with Asemota, issued a directive to tanker drivers nationwide to halt fuel supply to the entire state but was stopped when it began to affect circulation, about a week after the directive was announced.

    Despite the intervention, marketers have continued to decry the activities of the union leaders in Benin, saying they don’t add value to the industry. The marketers are still lamenting their financial losses caused by the directive.

     

    They called on the government to proscribe all forms of unions in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)-owned depots.

    A petroleum marketer in Benin, Ben Mamoud, said the directive would cripple supply as the state relies on product supply from Lagos, Warri, Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State as Benin depot has not been functional for some years. It only serves as a documentation point for marketers in the state.

    Mamoud decried the leadership war, saying the two leaders were laying claim to IPMAN leadership due to the privileges that accrue to the position. This, he said, is compounded by the practice where depot managers illegally allocate fuel to marketers through the union.

    He said: “The union leaders collect product from the depot management and sell in the black market operating openly in the depot while the filling stations used to obtain the product are out of supply. As a result, most marketers get product above the official price while the union executives and their official connivers go home with millions of naira.

    “This illegal transaction is not new and not restricted to Benin depot. Is it not strange that depot managers have abandoned their contractual relationship with registered marketers to satisfy union leaders many of who have no functional filling stations?”

    Amid the crisis, the Benin depot managers have realised its contractual obligation and started allocating products to marketers, which is what the guidelines actually stipulate should be done. It started giving products to marketers directly rather than through union leaders. This infuriated a faction of IPMAN, which felt its leadership deserves official recognition.

    The decision of the depot managers to comply with the guidelines and allocate PMS directly to marketers is the cause of the current plan of tanker drivers to stop supply. By the recent action, the drivers intend to arm twist the NNPC to recognise the leadership of its former chairman.

    “The union lords have tasted free money. They do nothing but build substandard filling stations just to qualify for membership and leadership of IPMAN which they use to collect product to sell at a higher price,” noted a marketer another marketer, Paul Imah said.

     

     

  • The era of fuel scarcity is gone for good, says NNPC GMD

    The Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, yesterday assured that the era of fuel scarcity is gone for good.

    Receiving the Man of the Year Award from Nigeria NewsDirect newspaper, the NNPC GMD said that the corporation had learnt a great lesson during the recent fuel scarcity in the country.

    “We have actualized the lessons learnt, part of which is to ensure that at any point in time, there should be sufficient products available for distribution across the country.

    “Most of our PPMC depots in Ejigbo, Mosinmi, Ibadan and other parts of the nation have sufficient product for distribution now.

    ‘NNPC is discussing with security operatives to stop smuggling of petrol products across our borders.

    “We are working alongside with them to ensure safety of our pipelines because we still have some areas in which vandals still disrupt our pipelines,” he said.

    Baru said he dedicated the Man of the Year award to all staff of the corporation.

    Also speaking, Dr Diran Fawibe, Chairman, International Energy Services, urged NNPC to ensure that the nation’s refineries worked to its full capacity.

    According to Fawibe, the oil and gas sector is a major sustainer of the nation’s economy.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, Publisher, Nigeria NewsDirect, said that the award was in recognition of the good work of distinguished Nigerians to the country’s growth.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), others that received awards include the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola and CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.

     

  • Osun partners Bovas to tackle fuel scarcity

    The Osun State government has expressed its readiness to partner Bovas Petroleum Nigeria Limited, an independent petroleum marketing company, to tackle fuel scarcity across the state.

    The government said the partnership would avert scarcity of fuel by increasing the daily volume of petroleum products supplied and distributed across the state.

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola announced the partnership after meeting with the leadership of Bovas Petroleum, led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Victoria Adunola Samson, at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital.

    The governor said he convened the meeting as part of his administration’s effort to relieve the pains the residents experienced in getting the petroleum products, being an important commodity to the people.

    Aregbesola said: “As a government, we want to do everything possible to end the protracted fuel scarcity in our state and we are ready to work with Bovas Petroleum to achieve this.

    “I know that Bovas Petroleum has a direct link with NNPC, and I am particularly thrilled that the company sells its products even below the official pump price, which is highly commendable.

    “We want to work with this company to improve the daily supply of petroleum products to our state and guarantee the product in every nook and cranny of our state.

    “There is no doubting the fact that Osun needs about 55 trucks laden with 33,000 litres of petrol everyday to meet its needs, but it is unfortunate that we get less than 10 trucks.

    “We are setting in motion the machinery that will facilitate the realisation of our objectives to guarantee a steady supply of petrol to our people.”

    Mrs Samson hailed Aregbesola for striving to rescue the state and the residents from the hardship of accessing and buying petroleum products.

    She said: “I am really touched to find out that the governor cares for the people of the state by striving very hard to ensure that Osun gets enough supply of petroleum products to ease the sufferings of motorists and commuters.

    “Though we have had a comprehensive discussion on this, but all I discovered is that he (Aregbesola) simply loves his people and he doesn’t want them to lack anything. That is why he wants us to bring enough supply to Osun to halt the current scarcity.

    “…We are ready to partner the state to increase on the supply capacity as we are promising to do our best to improve on the supply of petroleum to Osun to alleviate the suffering.”

     

  • Fuel scarcity: Consumers hail company for stable pricing

    Motorists and other consumers of petroleum products in the Warri axis of Delta State have hailed Matrix Energy Limited for selling the products at government-approved prices.

    Many of the consumers, who spoke with The Nation during a survey conducted last week, noted that since fuel scarcity started late last year, Matrix Energy had consistently made products available at the official pump prices.

    A resident Kingsley Ebikeme, who said he had been buying the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, since the scarcity started, noted that the company had enabled him to save a lot of money.

    “Although the queues are always very long – because they are about the only filling stations that always has ready fuel and selling at N145 per litre – you can only imagine how much they save in a month for a middle-class person, especially when you have to buy at the average of N190 to N200 from the few other filling stations that also have fuel,” Ebikeme said.

    A transportation businessman Okeoghene Joseph said: “These people (Matrix Energy) deserve an award and whatever other thing that government can do to make them deliver better.

    “If not for Matrix, tell me how people like us could still been in business, because commuters are not always ready to pay extra in the name of fuel scarcity.”

    It was learnt that Matrix Energy’s steadfastness had started to yield positive results for consumers as the pump price is expected to crash in the market.

  • How to end fuel scarcity – IPMAN

    How to end fuel scarcity – IPMAN

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has recommended massive importation and deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry to end the current fuel scarcity in the country.

    The association also advised the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to disengage itself from the business of retailing.

    The Western Zonal Chairman of IPMAN, Debo Ahmed, told journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, that “NNPC should leave retailing to marketers and engage in proper regulation.

    Ahmed said the current fuel scarcity had led to job losses and closing of shops by many IPMAN members.

    He listed some of the reasons why the scarcity would persist, noting that NNPC has no capacity to meet the demand of the country’s petroleum requirements as sole importer, distributor, and retailer.

    He said: “That is a very dangerous monopoly destroying the economy of the country. The little quantity it imports is not distributed justifiably. NNPC mega stations with 3.5 percent market share are allocated 50 percent of available products in all the functioning depots in the country.

    “IPMAN with 80 percent of the market share is allocated 30 percent of the share of total available products.

    “Major marketers with 1.6 percent market share receive 20 percent of available products as allocation. With this distribution pattern NNPC is strangulating IPMAN members because a lot of marketers have had the gates of their stations closed up.

    “Volumes of most of the imported PMS are given to the depot owners under the PFI system to sell to the independent marketers at a controlled price of N133.28 per liter but the private depot owners will sell at N162 above the regulated price.

    “The government is not doing enough about those depot owners (DAPPMA) who are flagrantly abusing the system only for Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to descend on independent marketers by closing their stations.

    “Fuel scarcity can only be abated if NNPC can import massively and distribute justifiably with IPMAN, major marketers and NNPC having their usual allocations of 40 percent, 30 percent and 30 percent respectively.”

     

  • Fuel scarcity bites harder in Kaduna

    Fuel scarcity bites harder in Kaduna

    As fuel scarcity continues to bite harder in Kaduna, civil servants are finding it difficult to get to work in time due to hike in transport fares and fewer vehicles plying the roads.

    Some of the civil servants and commercial drivers said in separate interviews that the situation was gradually becoming harrowing and intolerable.

    One of the workers, Ms Ruth Adamu, said it was no longer possible to get to work on time.

    “I left home early so I can get a bus that will take me to town, but unfortunately, I had to wait for 45 minutes before I could get one.

    “There are few vehicles plying the road as a result of the persistent fuel scarcity and this has led to increase in intra-city transport fare.

    “I normally pay N80 for my transport but today,  I had to pay N150,” she said.

    Another civil servant, Malam Aminu Isah, expressed displeasure over the development, stating  that  the situation was going “from bad to worse.’’

    Read More: Nigeria losing trillions to fuel subsidy cabal – Saraki

    “As you can see, most of us waiting for public vehicles are civil servants, we don’t own private cars as such we use public transport to go to work,” he said.

    A commercial driver, Malam Hamza Iliyasu, also expressed disappointment on the prevailing fuel situation in the city, saying it was getting out of control.

    “Most public transport drivers have either parked their cars or are on queue waiting to get fuel, that is why you can only find few commercial vehicles on the road,” he said.

    Another commercial driver, Mr Izzy Chigbu, said that the long queues drivers had to go through daily was “stressful and dangerous” to their health.

    “Some drivers sleep at filling stations to be able to obtain fuel with which to work. I am supposed to be on the road conveying passengers to their various destinations, but here I am waiting on a queue since dawn.

    “With the way things are going, I don’t think I will get fuel any time soon,” he said.

    Chigbu appealed to the Federal Governments to take decisive measures that would permanently tackle problems of fuel supply in the country