Fuel queues have returned to the filling stations in Lagos as petroleum marketers have denied receiving subsidy arrears payment from the Federal Government. Some marketers say they were given cheques but that there was no money in the bank to back up the instrument.
Speaking to The Herald, a petrol marketer based in Lagos said that the Federal Government had not yet paid the subsidy but had only promised to pay. He said the presence of the queues was due to the fact that marketers who have products in their depot were refusing to let the products be lifted by tankers.
Several filing stations monitored by our correspondents had closed their gates for business, and those that were opened had queues building up outside.
The Federal Government is currently owing marketers N413 billion in unpaid subsidy claims.
Speaking to NAN, a marketer disclosed,
“Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, has not released any subsidy claims as promised.
“As I am talking to you we have been directed by the CBN to go and meet the Debt Management Office for clarification.
“All our efforts to get the said money have been in vain and to start importing has been a serious problem.
“There is no money to back up the cheques presented to the marketers.
“We do not even know the basis for the clarification of the cheques, but we are aware that there is no money in the account.
“It is like giving the marketers cheques only to discover that there was no money in the account.
“Nothing like importing now because all marketers are angry because of the failed promised,” one of the marketers al