THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has blamed the lack of gasoline in Lagos, Abuja, and other states on the fluctuating value of the foreign exchange (forex) and low supply of bulk import to depots from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd.
This is responsible for the lines at stations in Lagos and Abuja, despite the product selling for N180 per litre at major stations in the capital cities.
This has also prompted business drivers to raise transportation costs.
During a press conference in Lagos, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, the IPMAN National Public Relations Officer, stated that larger vessels carry petrol into Nigeria via Lagos while smaller ones transport goods to ports in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt, etc. These smaller boats are paid in dollars as well.
“Now, you cannot expect them to sell PMS at N145/litre when the price of hiring a vessel has risen from $38,000 to around $108,000 to $111,000, depending on the level of the vessel. These charges are paid in dollars.”
He added that the lack of ships to transport goods as a result of the increase in hiring costs was a factor in the ghost scarcity of PMS among states.
The IPMAN representative stated that it was currently difficult for the NNPC to subsidize PMS.
