NNPC Replies Depot Owners, Says Corporation Supplies Them Fuel Despite Owing N26.7bn

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has dismissed a statement by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), blaming it of being part of the biting fuel scarcity crises across Nigeria, stating that the Petrol Marketers were insincere in their claims.

NNPC described claim by DAPPMAN that the scarcity was due to the inability of the Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) partners of NNPC to deliver on their business obligations is unfounded and self-indicting.

It said many of DAPPMA members who still owe NNPC to the tune of N26.7 billion have, notwithstanding been taking fuel from the same DSDP international counterparts.

NNPC in statement signed by Ndu Ughamadu, its Group General Manager and Group Public Affairs Division, described as very unfortunate a statement credited to DAPPMA on the fuel supply situation, especially Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).

NNPC said it has supplied appreciable volume to DAPPMA, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to rid the challenges currently being experienced in the supply and distribution of petroleum products in the country.

NNPC said it regretted that DAPPMA, which members had taken receipts of products from Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), and still owe the company to the tune of N26.7 billion as at December 21, 2017, has the audacity to indict NNPC unjustifiably.

NNPC said, “The statement by DAPPMA that the current hiccups in the supply of products was due to the inability of the Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) partners of NNPC to deliver on their business obligations is unfounded and self-indicting as many of DAPPMA members patronize the same DSDP international counterparts as the corporation.

“Despite the concession by the government giving access to DAPPMA to obtain FOREX at an official rate of N305 per dollar for PMS import, their members have not been able to do so, leaving NNPC as the sole supplier of PMS to the Nigerian market.

“NNPC assures the public that despite the increase it effected in the supply of PMS in the December 2017, it has nonetheless, programmed to supply 1.2billion litres of the white products in January 2018, translating to about 40million litres of PMS supply per day. Ordinarily, Nigeria consumes about 700 trucks (about 27million – 30million) litres per day.

“Despite the current challenges, Nigerians are reassured that there is no plan to increase PMS pump price above N145/litre and that NNPC will continue to maintain ex–depot price of N133.28/litre which guarantees the pump price not exceeding the N145 per litre capped by the government.

“All stakeholders are implored to support the efforts by the government to bring a speedy end to the current fuel distribution challenges being experienced in parts of the country as this is not the time to play the blame game”