The reluctance of some oil marketers to import petrol owing to alleged non-payment of subsidy arrears and the subsequent reduction in loading activities at the Apapa depots are currently putting serious pressure on product supply across the country.

There are fears that scarcity of petrol is imminent if the situation is not addressed.

Some filling stations, which in recent times were always open to dispense petrol, had challenges meeting customers’ demand. This development became evident on Sunday.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos Zone, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, told our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday that the number of trucks loading fuel per day had reduced.

He also said loading of fuel at the Coconut area of Apapa, Lagos had been disrupted following the road construction work along the axis.

“Any marketer that has product along that corridor will not be able to load,” Korodo said.

Commenting on the state of the current state of the depots, he said, “Most depots are fast drying up. That is why there is a slight unofficial increase in the price of the product that is currently being sold at the Apapa depots. From N86 per litre, we now see some marketers selling for N90 to N91 (without trucks).

He said despite claims that the fourth quarter import allocation and its supplementary had been approved by the government, the non-payment of subsidies to marketers could make a nonsense of the move as importers would not be willing to do further importation.

“Marketers need money to bring in this product. They put down a lot of money to import the product, and may not be able to do additional importation if they are not paid as and when due.”

When our correspondent visited some depots at Apapa on Tuesday, many tankers were seen idle; only few were lifting products.

Depots where activities were spotted included Aiteo, Nipco and Conoil.

The idle tankers also worsened the traffic situation in the area making it difficult for car owners and other commuters to move freely.

The spokesperson for an oil marketing company in Apapa told our correspondent in confidence that the ex-depot price per litre had risen by over N1 following the pressure.

When our correspondent spoke with the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency’s spokesperson, Mr. Lanre Oladele, on the telephone, he said there were enough products in the country to last for another 50 days.

He confirmed that the fourth quarter import allocation as well as its supplementary allocation had been approved by the government.

According to him, some construction works were being done along the Apapa axis, which could be causing some supply challenges. “This does not mean product is not available,” he stressed.

When our correspondent reached the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Olawore, he said the situation was being examined.

He declined to make further comment on subsidy payments or supply trends.

An independent oil marketer, who insisted he wanted to be anonymous, told our correspondent that some marketers were already complaining of non-payment of subsidy arrears.

He said the marketers were not willing to import because subsidy had not been paid on their past importation.

In October this year, the Federal Government through the PPPRA granted approval to oil marketing and trading companies to import 600,000 metric tonnes of petrol pending the approval of the fourth quarter fuel import allocations. This was part of the efforts to sustain regular supply of petrol in the country.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/fuel-scarcity-looms-over-delayed-subsidy-payments/

I hope the government have their reasons. Even the strike at Apapa port has crippled my business, i hope the marketers do not strike too.

despite the drastic fall in price of oil, leading to a drastic fall in price of subsidy, this government can't still pay.

[size=48pt]datz wat always vexes me abt dis country..na bad news.person go always dy hear...Badnews has bkum d oda of the day..why.. Why why.. o Lord have Mercy on your people[/size]

GEJ is working

Bad news.

This country don dey fear me oo, na 2 run go find visa sure pass.

Oil money running low.....

Yes my friends, the oil money is running low....there isn't enough cash to subsidize the fuel we buy.

Am expecting to pay N150 per liter by the end of next month.

Oh well.....good thing oil prices are falling.....we may just get off the oil and into industrial development and innovation.

Oil is still a curse.

one need to prepare for everything comes 2015 because the way things are going
everything will soon increase in double figure.

Nigeria economy sinking like the Titanic ship yet Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is telling us every thing is under control.

Another new year gift.won't b surprised sha.

Another fresh Air from GEJ. Please let the strike wait until we come back from Xmas.

I foresee it as a new year gift from Jonathan.

I for see a hike in transport fare for those travelling.

This country is a big joke.

No be 2day e dey happen like dat

Let wait and see

I guess it is time to fasten our seat belts.

bros j how market ..na sure new year package be 150 per litre from Bros j..

Eleyi gidi gan! Surely, this one will affect the price of garri in the market. For all those GEJ supporters, may your lives be blessed by God the same way GEJ is blessing Nigeria. GEJ is working.

Nigeria leaders are satanic

space booked ... front page ..

See me see Jerrycans...

Storage tins activated..

Honestly,this country is a joke.There are no more loadings at most NNPC depots across the country which means there is serious pressure on loading in lagos.we should be expecting the return of queues at our filling stations.May God save Nigeria.

[size=24pt]The answer is very obvious - we have a Satanic President, who has literarily converted Nigeria to his personal bank account.

We know what to do in 2015![/size]

-CramJones

e no concern me. FP things. their papa!!!