The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has asked the Federal Government to remove all the multiple charges slammed on oil marketers if it wants to address the fuel crisis facing the country.
The admonition was given by the National President of IPMAN, Chinedu Okoronkwo, at a press briefing in the Senate on Thursday in Abuja.
He called for synergy between the National Assembly and IPMAN to devise a means of making fuel available to the masses by cutting off all the bottlenecks preventing marketers from accessing foreign exchange to import refined petroleum products into the country.
Speaking further, he said the demurrage encountered by the marketers while seeking foreign exchange, has often forced them to obtain the currency anywhere and at any rate, with attendant higher pump price.
He however pointed out that the only lasting solution to the fuel crisis is for government to get the local refineries working, adding that in the interim, the government and marketers should have an adjusted price tag that will be acceptable to the public.
“The refineries have started producing fuel gradually and it will reduce the scarcity, Dangote Refinery will soon come on stream.
“The issues keeping Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) hanging needed to be resolved to encourage investors to come in and invest their money in the industry to enable the country have adequate supply at all time”, he said.
On how the leadership crisis affecting the agency has worsened the energy crisis, the IPMAN President said a situation where an individual will create confusion in an organization with about 50,000 outlets for personal gains is not suitable for the economy and the country at large.
Okoronkwo said the leadership crisis has negative impact on the distribution of the product because it will make non members of IPMAN to receive products, which they can divert since nobody can monitor them.
He said with strong leadership in place devoid of crisis, they can advise government on how to distribute the product to areas it is most needed.
He said further that 52 vessels carrying fuel are around, will be distributed gradually, arguing that with these, the scarcity will soon fizzle out.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
