11 March 2014, Lagos – The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, has absolved its members of blame, while also debunking claims that the Association may be responsible for the lingering fuel scarcity.
A ministry of petroleum official who did not want his name in print disclosed that the scarcity of petrol may not be unconnected with the refusal of petroleum marketers to lift petrol and distribute accordingly claiming that their margin is too low to continue distribution,
Meanwhile, the lingering scarcity of petrol across the country prompted the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke to embark on tour of petrol stations in Lagos.
A staff of the Association who spoke under condition of anonymity said it was not true that major marketers have refused to lift fuel on account of any perceived low margins.
“Major marketers have not refused to load on account of low margin. The margin is low there’s no doubt about that, but it is of note that the current margin has been the same since 2007 and has been eroded by inflation and foreign exchange instability.
“We have not refused to lift as a result of that as that is not the way we operate in MOMAN.
“The scarcity we experienced would take a minimum of one week to resolve.”
The non payment of subsidy is a reason for the scarcity as well as late release of Q1 allocation.”
He further stated that “in view of all that is happening I hope those that were barred from importing petroleum products by the Aig-Imokhuede committee are not scheming to come back thereby creating unnecessary propaganda so they could be invited to start importation.”