09 February 2016, Warri – An oil magnate and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Olorogun Okiemute Okwagbe, has faulted the plan by the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC, to build more mega stations across the country.
Speaking in Warri, Okwagbe lamented that NNPC has not been able to meet the supply needs of the existing mega stations, yet it plans to build new ones.
Noting that the problem of inadequate distribution of petroleum products lied with the depots, (both independent and major marketers), he said that the distribution of petroleum products was fraught with challenges of shortage of the products.
He advised NNPC to maintain the existing mega stations and their affiliates so that the purpose for which they were built can be achieved.
He said: “The NNPC has not recorded any success in managing its existing mega stations and the affiliates across the country. Apart from the stations in some major cities, most of these stations are often non-operational for reasons traceable to the inadequacies of NNPC in the supply of petroleum products.”
According to him, NNPC was placing the cart before the horse, adding that the major problem with fuel distribution was not the inadequate spread of retail outlets in the country, but non-availability of petroleum products.
He noted that every village in the country has at least one station or within 20 minutes drive to the nearest one.
- Vanguard