The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, has assured Nigerians that the current fuel crisis will be resolved soon.
Speaking to journalists in Kaduna on Saturday, Shettima revealed that IPMAN had recently held a crucial meeting with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Minister of Oil, and other key stakeholders in the oil industry, where they received assurances that the situation would be brought under control in the near future.
He explained that disruptions in fuel supply often occur when there are changes, especially price increases, in fuel pump rates. “Whenever there are changes, particularly in pump prices, it creates temporary issues as fuel pump adjustments are made, and marketers are usually required to clear any outstanding debts before they can lift fuel at the new prices,” Shettima noted.
He added confidently, “Once all these requirements are met, the fuel crisis will be over.”
Addressing the confusion surrounding the recent fuel price hike, Shettima clarified that IPMAN is not privy to the reasons behind the decision. “We are not aware of the reasons for the increase in fuel prices. It is the authorities who decide on the pricing,” he explained.
“We are simply marketers, and our role is to sell the products. We do not have control over the pricing decisions made by the government or regulatory bodies,” Shettima concluded.
