The Impartial Petroleum Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria (IPMAN) is asking for a N15 billion refund from the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted (NNPCL). This request comes after the federal government stopped controlling the worth of petrol and allowed NNPC to cease being the one purchaser of Dangote Refinery.
Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, President of IPMAN, said in Abuja that if NNPC costs greater than Dangote Refinery, it ought to give again the cash paid by impartial entrepreneurs. In an interview with Channels TV, Shettima complained that NNPC was asking for extra money from entrepreneurs although they hadn’t obtained the petrol they paid for.
“It’s flawed for NNPC to ask for extra money after holding onto our funds for months with out giving us the petrol,” Shettima mentioned. He defined that entrepreneurs have been unable to get petrol since NNPC raised its costs, leaving them in a tricky spot.
Shettima mentioned they’d paid practically N15 billion, however after three months, they nonetheless hadn’t obtained the petrol. “Now, they need us to pay the distinction,” he added, exhibiting how laborious it has been for entrepreneurs.
He advised that NNPC ought to both promote petrol on the identical worth as Dangote Refinery or return the cash so entrepreneurs should purchase instantly from the refinery. “They advised us to pay greater than what Dangote is promoting it for. That’s why we wish our a reimbursement, so we are able to purchase instantly from Dangote if that’s the case,” he defined.
This request comes because the trade adapts to a market the place costs will not be managed by NNPC anymore, and entrepreneurs need to purchase petrol on their very own phrases. Shettima identified the difficulties in getting petrol, “For the reason that worth enhance, we haven’t been in a position to load a single truck as a result of we have to pay upfront, and our cash is already with NNPC. They gained’t allow us to load. They advised us to make up the worth distinction, and it’s not simple as a result of there are steps we have now to observe.”
In the meantime, the Federal Authorities has mentioned it’s not answerable for the current rise in petrol costs, blaming world market modifications as a substitute. The Minister of Data and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, advised reporters that NNPC set the costs based mostly on present market situations, not authorities orders.
Idris additionally talked about that the worth enhance was on account of exterior points like the continued conflicts within the Center East, which have an effect on market costs. He assured the general public that though costs are excessive now, they need to come down and stabilise sooner or later.