Fuel Scarcity Gets Worse As Loading Shrinks To 20 Trucks A Day – IPMAN

The fuel situation in Lagos metropolis which has over the past one month bred columns of black market operators along all nooks and crannies of the state may not abate despite new assurances by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that normalcy would return in the next few days.

Leadership check reveals that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or fuel allocation to Major and Independent marketers have dropped drastically while depots in the Apapa axis of the state are virtually dry.

Most dispensing outlets in the metropolis are currently rationing products causing unprecedented traffic along major roads in the state.

Revealing the current situation to our correspondent on phone, Mr. Alamu Ayo chairman Ejigbo satelite depot of the Independent petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) said as at yesterday (Tuesday) allocation to independent Marketers dropped to 6 trucks while Major Marketers were allocated 8 trucks for Lagos state.

He said for some time they are doing skeletal services following monumental drop in allocation to marketers.

“ As I speak with you, the Depots in lagos are empty, the Independent Marketers were allocated 6 trucks and the Majors were given 8 trucks for Lagos state. Also, 2 trucks were allocated to the Independents for Ogun state, while 16 trucks are meant for bridging to serve Suleja, Minna,  Akure, Ore and other areas.

The truth was once told by the Minister of state for petroleum resources, Ibe Kachikwu when he said he had no magic wand to end fuel scarcity in the country.

“To me that is the truth. For Lagos alone we need to push up allocation.

Previously, Ejigbo loads average of 104 trucks for Lagos alone daily. We get supply from NipCo, Folawiyo and Capital Oil.

If we must end queue in Lagos state then we should be doing a minimum of 200-250 trucks every day for many weeks to come.

Previously when fuel was available, both Major and Independents do average of 500 trucks in Lagos daily. So tell me how government can end the scarcity in few days.

To me it appears to be sound like a tall dream because NNPC is the only agency importing and lacks the capacity to satisfy the market.