NNPC: Marketers responsible for fuel scarcity

The Minister of State for Petroleum and the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu Tuesday said that the Major Oil Marketers were responsible for the fuel scarcity all over the country.
Kachikwu stated this in Abuja when he took an impromptu tour round the federal capital city to access the fuel situation.
The GMD, who last week explained why Marketers had not been paid the N413 billion oil subsidy, told reporters that the marketers refusal to bring in fuel was responsible for the scarcity witnessed all over the country.

He, however, stated that he has reached an agreement with the marketers to commence importation and selling of fuel at the filling stations.

Asked to explain the reason behind the continuous fuel scarcity witnessed all over the country, the Minister said: “Also it is because of the delay in the release of funds for the payment of subsidy. A lot of individuals are not bringing in products. So NNPC has been the one supplying the country and it is almost a hundred per cent when most typically we should be doing 50 or 55 per cent”.
He, however, assured that the situation would be over in some days as he said: “But I think this will go away because I’m getting all the majors to get involved. I am instructing that the majors must take charge of their stations. We are working to ensure that some of the rules are relaxed so that they can bring in products and deliver.”