*Calls for renewal of petroleum trucks in Nigeria
OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — Tunji Oyebanji, Chairman, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, has warned against constant criticisms especially from labour unions against removal of fuel subsidy, saying it would eventually throw future generations into backlogs of debts.
He gave the warning during a courtesy visit by the executives of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria, NAEC to the MOMAN secretariat in Lagos.
According to him, subsidy gulps over N1 billion monthly.
“Nigerians see petrol as a commodity that should, if possible, given to them for free. They forget that it involves huge money to import it. If you don’t treat petrol as a business then, it would eventually affect aspect of our lives because marketers would run out of funds to stay afloat.
“Subsidy should be removed now, if not, it will keep multiplying over the years and create more problems for our children in the nearest future. If labour unions understand this, they would be the ones calling for quick deregulation of the downstream sector”, he said.
Speaking on MOMAN’s achievements in the last two to three years, Executive Secretary & Chief Executive Officer, MOMAN, Clement Isong assured NAEC that the Association had evolved and is more engaged with the federal government on issues bothering on the Downstream sector.
He explained that the Association has made deep input into the currently debated Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, deregulation of the downstream sector and other issues affecting the oil and gas industry.
According to him, MOMAN also engages the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO in terms of training, and ensuring that trucks for products transportation are in perfect condition.
“We need to renew all trucks carrying products across the country. Nigeria needs to bring in new and modern ones that are up to standard, because, every time a truck is involved in an accident, it affects our reputation”, he said.
While urging oil marketers to invest in purchasing of new trucks, Oyebanji assured NAEC of its unflinching support.
In response, Vice-Chairman of the Association, Ugo Amadi, affirmed NAEC’s professionalism at reporting the oil and gas industry, adding that the Association was ready to give MOMAN a strong push to resolving the challenges in the sector.
Amadi thanked the executives of MOMAN for their continuous support in affording energy correspondents with relevant information and data for professional reporting of the Downstream sector.
