IPMAN, NNPC allay fears of Nigerians on fuel scarcity

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has called on Nigerians to exercise patience as efforts are being made to address the current fuel scarcity in some parts of the country.

While allaying the fear of possible escalation of the perennial queues to other parts of the nation, IPMAN said the scarcity was occasioned by flooding witnessed in some states, leading to the destruction of some major roads.

IPMAN Chairman, Northern Nigeria branch, Alhaji Bashir Danmalam, gave the indication in a statement issued to statement journalists on Saturday.

He said following the flooding, most of the major roads being used by the marketers had gone bad and most truck drivers spend between eight and nine days, especially on Koton Karfe Road before reaching their destination.

Other affected roads, according to Danmalam include Bida – lemu- zungeru Road, Minna-Tagina ( 6km from Minna Makonkele) and Tegina-Mokwa Road as well as Mokwa- Makera to Minna (Bakane) Lambata-Lapai-Agaie-Bida roads.

The IPMAN chairman disclosed that about 200 trucks loaded with the commodity from Calabar are being expected in Abuja and other parts of the northern states for onward distribution to filling stations.

He said the trucks are expected to come through Ikom, Ogoja, Katsina Ala, Vandeikia up to Lafiya to Abuja.

Danmalam commended the Managing Director of Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi, for pledging to support marketers with diesel in order to reduce the hardship being experienced as a result of the high cost of the product.

He said NNPC limited in collaboration with IPMAN is making efforts to ensure adequate supply and distribution of the product adding that very soon scarcity will be over.

The chairman explained that the NNPC had also mobilised the Federal Road Safety Corps personnel to assist in clearing the affected roads for smooth transportation of the commodity to northern parts of the country.

In addition, he said the NNPC had directed the CCC Chinese company which is working on the affected roads to relocate to the damaged portions of the roads in repairing the roads.

The NNPC has also mobilised Dantata and Sawoe to start work on damaged portions of the affected roads to enable the trucks transport the product within the shortest time possible.