IPMAN Commends FG on Special Intervention Fuel Supply to Marketers

By Gladys Johnson
……. Members loads over 300 trucks of P.M.S to various stations
In a bid to ensure total eradication of fuel scarcity, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Friday commended Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over effective special intervention fuel supply to marketers across the country.
Mr Mike Osatuyi, National Operation Controller of IPMAN made the commendation in Lagos when he received two trucks of 76, 000 litres at his stations at Akute through the intervention schemes.
Osatuyi who is also the Chairman, Nice Petroleum said that the fuel intervention was in a bid to ensure total eradication of queues from fuel stations across the country.
He said that the station which was designed to sell about 28 vehicles at ago, adding that the station also operation 24-hours with capability of selling three trucks a day.
Osatuyi said that it is important for all IPMAN members to show case what government is doing about special intervention petrol supply to marketers which came to stations at no extra cost.
According to him, Federal Government, through NNPC/PPMC should be lauded for these special intervention schemes, this shows that government have the people at heart.
“The only way to ensure total eradication of queues in the country is when this intervention of petrol supply is sustainable.
“At my station, I was given two trucks of 76 million litres which payment would be remitted after sales,’’ he said.
Osatuyi, however urged NNPC/PPMC to ensure sustainability of the product so that marketers can sell at approved price of N87 litre
He said that now that government have chosen to to partner with IPMAN on effective fuel distribution, the association is also fully ready to support the schemes to ensure no member sell above pump price.
The IPMNAN boss said that about 300 trucks had been loaded from Apapa private depot by members to various locations of IPMAN outlets.
“I have also instructed my station manager to ensure 24-hours petrol sales until the product exhausted, which is the mandate of the minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachwuchu.
Osatuyi said that though there were a number of challenges in the supply and distribution system that hamper efficient distribution of products across the country.
He said that challenges which NNPC has rise above the challenges by ensuring that the special intervention supplies are not diverted or hoarded.
“This calls for effective monitoring of the supply system, especially at the end points, to ascertain that what is trucked out from the depots is delivered at the designated fuel stations and dispensed to the public in the most efficient manner.
He advised NNPC officials to work towards achieving zero-queues at respective stations as soon as possible by providing product for sales.
He urged government to ensure the product is available after the Christmas festival period for sustainability.
Osatuyi said that deregulation of the downstream sector remain the best option for the country’s oil industry.
He said that the scarcity has in turn reawaken the call for complete deregulation of the downstream sector as a way of putting a check on the perennial fuel scarcity threatening to rear its ugly head anytime soon.
According to him, if petrol is deregulated like diesel this would address many challenges confronting the sector, adding that if its deregulated marketers would sell at different prices to attract customers.