Yemisi Izuora
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and major players in the downstream oil sector today disagreed on fuel situation in the country.
Both parties expressed different understanding on the true situation of the industry with regard to fuel availability.
A meeting initiated by the regulator in Lagos to restore normalcy and end sharp practices by marketers was equally not attended by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association (DAPPMA).
At the meeting the Acting Director of the DPR Ladan Madacai threatened to shut down facilities of operators who indulge in malpractices.
Madacai who was represented at the meeting by Alphonsus Mudei Head Downstream operations, said that available information indicated that marketers have flouted government policy by manipulating pump prices and in some cases hoard products.
“This meeting is therefore convened to reiterate the resolve of the Department of Petroleum Resources to ensure that henceforth, the DPR would not allow a situation whereby supply of PMS is dictated by the private interests of Markerters and Dealers to the detriment of the Nigerian public, neither will the Department condone any act of selling PMS above official pump price in Government licensed facilities under any guise whatsoever” the director warned.
He said that any one indulging in such act will be penalized .
but in reaction, Kunle Bami gboye, Vice Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) Western zone, said marketers buy product above stipulated government price at depots operated by marketers.
Bamigboye also informed the Director that the NNPC did not have enough products to go round and that all those factors contributed to operators selling above government price.
He challenged the DPR to prove availability of products as claimed by NNPC.
Mudacai in response warned that marketers should not hide under the guise of deficit in supply to cheat.
He insisted that available data confirmed product availability for up to twenty five days.