Following the energy crisis that has engulfed Nigeria, especially the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other states, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has kicked-off plans to import the Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) diesel to cushion the scarcity, The Nation learnt yesterday.
The Premium Motor Spirit PMS petrol has been very scarce not for shortage of supply, but largely due to the inability of the transporters to fuel their trucks with the expensive diesel that convey it from the coastal depots to Abuja and up north.
Besides, the highways are in a very sordid state, the IPMAN President, Alhaji Debo Ahmed, made these disclosures to The Nation on phone last night.
According to him, the association is already negotiating with its stakeholders on how to import diesel into Nigeria.
He was silent on the timeline and volume, which IPMAN is eyeing. Ahmed noted that although the quantity will be large enough to cause a positive change in the ongoing energy crises in Nigeria, the Russian and Ukraine war would determine the quantity to a reasonable extent.
His words: “But I don’t think there is going to be a problem. It is not going to last longer.”
Products are coming in and they are discharging in the stations.
“But there is always this panic buying. NNPC said the product is available. So we are waiting to see how the whole thing goes.
Except some of our members who have depots that would apply.
Asked why the marketers have been fond of the excuse of lack of forex as their setback, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) is the sole importer of the PMS, he said the quest for forex is for importation of diesel and not petrol.
He was emphatic that the Federal Government has adopted the NNPC Limited the only importer of petrol.
The President, however, noted that some members of the association had requested for forex for the importation of diesel that its market is open to them.
He added as an association, IPMAN is holding discussions with some major stakeholders on how to bring in the diesel.
Ahmed said “What they (marketers) are asking for, is forex for diesel. Diesel, too, is scarce. It is only for diesel because the Federal Government has taken upon itself that it is only NNPC that imports products into this country, especially the PMS. But the forex they are asking for is for diesel is not for petrol.
NNPC said the product is available. So we are waiting to see how the whole thing goes. Except some of our members who have depots that would apply.”