Nigerians might experiment fuel scarcity again as the owners of Mega Petrol Filling Stations have threatened to shut down operations following an alleged imposition of a lower pump price on them by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) .
This was revealed at a briefing held by the Mega Filling Station Owners of Nigeria (AMFSON) in Kaduna.
The association claimed that Ibe Kachikwu, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, had directed that all mega filling stations sell fuel at varying rates of N130.00, N135.00, N140.00 per litre, while their competitors sell
at N145 per litre.
Kenneth Nwachukwu, the association’s national Secretary, said: “We are kicking against a directive by the Minister of State for Petroleum that we sell fuel for less than N145 per litre. We are all marketers and we get
supplies at the same source and at the same price. Why should we be made to sell at N130, N135 and N140 per litre while others sell for N145 per litre? With this pronouncement by the Minister, we foresee a looming fuel
scarcity because we may have to shut operations nationwide. ”
“We also see fuel scarcity because some unscrupulous marketers would rather get their supplies and sell in the black market at N145 than take the fuel to their stations and this will cause another crisis in the retail chain.”
“We have never seen this kind of policy. In fact it will increase corruption which government is fighting tooth and nail to stop. ”
“Some people are already bribing their way at the depots and officials there are selling to them at a price lower than the official one. These people can afford to sell at a price lower than N145. But we buy at official price and as such cannot be forced sell lower than N145,” he
added.