NNPCL/IPMAN dispute: DSS steps in, settles differences
After a series of complaints and threats to stop operation nationwide, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has given in to allowing oil marketers, who operate under the auspices of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), to begin loading petrol from its depot at a lower price.
Recall that IPMAN through its national president, Abubakar Maigandi in a statement on Thursday vehemently complained about the rate at which NNPC was selling to them.
According to him, NNPC was lifting petrol from Dangote refinery at about N898/litre, but was selling the same product to independent marketers at an exorbitant rate of N1,010/litre in Lagos and varying high prices in other parts of the country.
In the same statement, he noted that NNPC has been withholding independent marketers’ funds to the tune of N15bn for about three months.
He also demanded a refund from the oil company for the supply of petrol made earlier by its marketers.
“Our major challenge now is that independent marketers have an outstanding debt from the NNPC and the company collected products through Dangote at a lower rate, which is not up to N900, but they are telling us now to buy this product from them at the price of N1,010/litre in Lagos; N1,045 in Calabar; N1,050 in Port-Harcourt; and N1,040 in Warri”, Maigandi stated.
As a result, fuel scarcity loomed as long queues could be seen in different parts of the nation.
The meeting, according to the National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike was successful, as they have been permitted the loading of products to cover the N15bn owed them.
He further stated that in attendance was a director from NMDPRA and the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari.
We were invited by the Director of the Department of State Services to resolve the ongoing issue between the association and the NNPCL.
“The meeting was on the non-compliance of selling PMS to IPMAN by Dangote Refinery and the problem we are having with NNPCL in terms of pricing. Based on this, the director of DSS invited us and brokered peace.
“Among what was agreed upon after a meditation process led by our National President Abubakar Maigandi, NNPCL has agreed to make some reductions and allow independent marketers to load out those tickets that amount to N15bn immediately.”
Ukadike also noted that NMDPRA agreed to issue import licenses IPMAN in order to attain full deregulation in the sector and also resolved to pay N10bn to the oil marketers as outstanding payments under the Petroleum Equalisation Fund.
Meanwhile, NMDPRA spokesperson, George Ene-Ita, when contacted feigned ignorance on such meeting taking place and the resolutions made.
“I am sorry, I am not aware of any meeting or license approval. I was not part of it”, he disclosed.
