FG releases petrol to independent marketers

The Federal Government has commenced the release of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol to Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

Information on the release was contained in a statement issued by Mr Lawson Ngoa, the Secretary, IPMAN Reconciliation Committee, on Sunday in Abuja.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe kachikwu, constituted a 14-man committee to resolve IPMAN crisis and to ensure end to fuel scarcity in the country.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the statement quoted the committee secretary as saying the release of the product was part of efforts to settle the 7,000 pending loading tickets of IPMAN.

He stated that some marketers had confirmed that they started loading the products from some depots in Lagos as a result of the efforts of the Committee.

He noted that IPMAN controlled over 80 per cent of the petroleum products’ retail outlets in the country and that members were not getting products from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) due to internal leadership crisis since last two years.

Ngoa said the Committee had taken steps to ensure that products were available all over the country.

He thanked Nigerians for the patience and understanding during difficult period and assured that with the support of the minister of petroleum resources and his team, the scarcity would soon be over.

He further called on stakeholders to shun unnecessary rancor and join hands with the Committee to restore peace and normalcy in petroleum distribution.

Meanwhile, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, former Education Minister and lead campaigner, #BringBackOurGirls, has chided the Nigeria’s leadership on the fuel crisis currently being faced by Nigerians.

As a result, she called President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate overhaul of the structure of the oil sector.

She said this in a message she tweeted at President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, on Sunday, via her Twitter handle, @obyezeks.

As tweeted: “Mr. President @MBuhari don’t delay any further the necessity to overhaul structure of the oil sector. EMBRACE the MARKET!! @IbeKachikwu.”

She likened the current situation to what she called the “rowdiness” at Air France boarding gate for Abuja in Paris, which she said was not different what was seen at Arik Desk, which she said was blamed on fuel scarcity.

“The rowdiness @ Air France boarding gate for Abuja in Paris was no different from what you’d see @ Arik desk. Reason? Fuel! @IbeKachikwu.

“Two hours delay because 40 passengers and checked luggage had to be offloaded from Air France flight to Abuja. Reason? Can’t refuel in Nigeria. Hmm,” Ezekwesili tweeted on Sunday, @obyezeks