The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Shettima, has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to provide Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to the association’s members at the same rates offered by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Shettima also urged the NNPC to refund the funds owed to petroleum marketers, which have been held for the past three months.
He emphasized the financial strain caused by the delayed refunds and appealed for immediate action from the national oil company.
“Our major challenge now is that already, we have an outstanding debt by the NNPC, and the company collected product through Dangote refinery at a lower rate — not up to N900,” Shettima said.
According to Shettima, NNPC has instructed IPMAN members to buy petrol at varying rates across the country, with prices set at N1,010 in Lagos, N1,045 in Calabar, N1,050 in Port Harcourt, and N1,040 in Warri. However, Shettima expressed displeasure at being asked to pay more than the rate Dangote is charging NNPC for the same product.
“So when they made this increment, they told us to add money and buy above what Dangote is selling products to them,” Shettima explained. He added, “That is the reason we told them to return our monies to our banks so that we can go directly to Dangote refinery and buy, if that’s the case.”
Shettima further noted that NNPC does not offer products on credit, which forces marketers to purchase ahead of loading. “Anytime they have products, they will call us to collect our products,” he said.
The ongoing dispute between IPMAN and NNPC has contributed to fuel shortages across the country, with marketers and the national oil company currently engaged in negotiations to resolve the matter.
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