The Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to strike a balance between its export ambitions and the local supply of critical energy products, particularly kerosene and diesel.
The National President of PETROAN, Dr Billy Gillis Harry, disclosed this in a statement signed by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele.
He stated that when the Port Harcourt refinery was non-functional, the scarcity of genuine products led to a surge in the circulation of adulterated kerosene and diesel.
Harry added that kerosene adulteration has been linked to all recorded kerosene explosions in Nigeria, emphasising that such incidents have consistently resulted in the loss of lives and left many victims injured or disfigured.The association, however, commended the NNPCL for the planned shipment of its first cargo to the international market.
“A nation that sells across geographical borders to external markets achieves greater revenue and transactional opportunities. Exports are incredibly important to modern economies because they offer exporting nations and firms many more market opportunities,” he said.
The National President mentioned that he is confident that the commencement of international trade by the exportation of refined petroleum products from Nigeria would stimulate Nigeria’s economic growth, reduce the inflation index, increase foreign exchange earnings, generate more revenues for the government and contribute significantly to GDP.
Harry, who added that it would reduce pressure on the dollar while strengthening the Naira, emphasised that Nigerians should anticipate a further crash in the dollar’s value in the coming days.
“On the other hand, diesel adulteration or fake diesel poses a growing challenge in Nigeria, associated with engine performance issues, high environmental pollution and loss of revenue accruable to the government.
“PETROAN hereby calls on NNPCL to commence loading and distributing diesel and kerosene to retail outlet owners in the nearest time possible, to save lives and machinery,” he said.
