Oil marketers have debunked claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that it has about 300 vessels carrying about 1.2 billion litres of fuel on the sea, saying that the shortages in fuel supply would continue for as long as marketers are still being owed.
They claimed that they are still being owed over N200 billion in spite of the fact that the Federal Government had paid about N154 billion to them for both subsidy and interest on the capitals they took from the banks. They said because of the huge outstanding, they are not able to pay banks and those who supply the marketers with products have also lost confidence in them and because of this they are unable to bring in the product.
Olufemi Olawore, executive secretary of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), said although all the members of the association have gotten the latest payment made by the Federal Government, another critical sector supply segment which is Depot Petroleum Marketers Association (DAPPMA) is still being owed huge outstanding and unless this is resolved fuel crisis would linger on for a long time.
He said there are currently about 6,000 tankers in Lagos trying to lift products about at the same time hence the gridlock that is being experienced in Apapa and environs.
