The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, on Tuesday, ordered the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to sanction errant petrol stations in the country and sell-off for free the storage of those stations that are hoarding the product.
The Minister was speaking after a working visit to some retail outlets in Abuja, Group Public Affairs Division General Manager
Ohi Alegbe said in a statement.
The measure is part of a spirited federal effort to end the fuel queues in major cities across the country, and the Minister asked DPR to ensure strict compliance by visiting various fuel stations.
“I have instructed DPR that if they discover any fuel station involved in hoarding, they should sell the products for free to customers around there. It is not just selling the station that is the answer. It is penalizing them when they do these things and I hope the message goes out loud and clear,” he said.
The Minister, who is billed to host a strategy session with the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN); the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA); the Jetty and Tank Farm Owners Associations and other relevant stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday, charged oil marketers nationwide to cooperate with the government to ensure speedy clearance of the fuel queues.
“I am getting all the majors to get involved and they must take charge of the situation and they must take responsibility for all their filling stations,” he said. “Currently, there is enough supply and we are moving trucks massively to address the situation. I have instructed the DPR and the Petroleum Equalization Fund and all the other agencies to work towards the fast track movement of petrol bearing trucks and vessels.”
On the approved payment of N413 billion subsidy claims to marketers, he reiterated that President Muhammadu Buhari has transmitted a letter to the National Assembly for the legislative approval of the subsidy claims, noting that the Central Bank of Nigeria will make the funds available to the marketers once appropriated by the National Assembly.
Dr. Kachikwu also stressed that there is no price reduction of petrol in the horizon and that marketers should desist from hoarding and make the products available to the motorists.
According to Mr. Alegbe, figures from the daily dispatch of petrol to depots in the country indicate that 38,277,955 litres of petrol were dispatched by PPMC yesterday, November 16.