Mustapha Zarma, the National Operations Controller of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, stated on Friday that the loading of PMS products at the depots has not yet begun. He emphasized that the queues may continue until Monday.
He said, “Maybe the improvement in supply will start tomorrow or Sunday but as of yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday), there has not been much loading of products. And even if there has been loading today, I don’t think it is much.
“That is why the queues are still visible. We cannot confirm the massive release of products as announced by the minister until maybe Monday.”
“The queues in Abuja are heavy. Nobody is loading. Right now, most of the tickets of independent marketers, which had been paid for since the last three months have not been cleared to load.”
Billy Gillis-Harry, the President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, has verified that marketers have not commenced the lifting of petrol as mandated.
He said, “We are aware of what the minister said, but we don’t have products yet. We have not started lifting the product as it is supposed to be and that is why the cost is very high in filling stations that have it.
“People struggle so much to get the product to sell to keep their businesses running. Once the products are readily accessible, the price will stabilise and the queues will clear. That is the situation.”
