Given the current fuel scarcity, oil marketers have charged the Federal Government to put an end to the monopolistic privilege enjoyed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
NNPC currently enjoys a monopoly on the importation and supply of petroleum products into the country.
But, oil marketers said the market situation was creating more problems for the country.
Marketers under the auspices of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN made their stance known during a briefing with newsmen on Thursday.
They said as part of permanent measures to curb fuel scarcity, other marketers should also be given free and fair play in the importation of products.
According to the Chairman of the Association, Olumide Adeosun, the current scarcity of petrol was occasioned by supply inadequacy in the last few weeks as well as distribution challenges created by the unavailability and continuous surge in international prices of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).
“In the interim, MOMAN recommends that the current single supplier strategy be reviewed.
“MOMAN, as an Association, fears that the current supply framework cannot guarantee steady and consistent supplies to the country given the current state of government finances and unpredictable international supply shortages. We, therefore, recommend gradual price deregulation with targeted palliatives (eg. transport and agricultural subsidies) to the public to ease implementation,” MOMAN said.
