Petrol shortage resurfaces as independent oil marketers go on strike

monjola sotubo

May 7, 2015 8:26 AM

The petrol shortage is said to have begun again due to the refusal of independent oil marketers to load fuel.

Car owners queuing at a petrol station in Nigeria

Despite recent subsidy payments made to oil marketers, fuel queues have begun to appear again in Nigeria.

The independent marketers are said to have stopped loading the product because the Federal Government overlooked them in the recent payment of subsidy arrears.

The sum of N154.2 billion was paid last week to the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria by the FG in order to halt the fuel scarcity in the country.

“The independent marketers are seriously aggrieved; they accused the government of being partial by only paying the major marketers. They too have locked up their tank farms against tanker drivers. So, they are not loading,” Chairman, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos Zone, Tokunbo Korodo told Punch on Wednesday, May 6, 2015.

“We expect the government to call the independent marketers too and to come to a conclusion on the amount involved and the modality of payment,” Korodo added.

The initial subsidy payment is part of a total sum of N354.4bn which the FG owes independent and major marketers as well as the depot owners.

monjola sotubo