Amid the ongoing fuel crisis affecting Nigerians, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has suspended new petrol orders by temporarily closing its application portal for marketers. The move is attributed to an unresolved backlog of previous orders. Industry sources confirmed that marketers typically submit their requests for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) via the NNPC portal. However, the platform has now become inaccessible to them, leaving many unable to place fresh orders. ..Read Full Article
According to independent marketers, payments for fuel purchases are made through the same platform, but significant delays in supply have become commonplace. Many marketers report waiting several months for product deliveries despite having already paid.
Speaking to journalists, members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) disclosed that NNPC currently owes them vast sums, with some marketers waiting up to three months for fuel supplies.
These delays have compounded since the recent surge in petrol prices, with NNPC allegedly ceasing fuel loading operations for IPMAN-affiliated stations, which make up over 70% of the nation’s petrol distribution network.
IPMAN members, frustrated by the delays, have resorted to sourcing fuel from private depots at significantly higher prices, further complicating the situation for both businesses and consumers.
When approached for comment, an NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, confirmed the portal’s closure. He explained that the decision was made to prevent holding marketers’ funds for extended periods due to the backlog.
“We are currently addressing a significant backlog of orders. The closure is a necessary step to ensure marketers’ capital is not held up unnecessarily,” Soneye explained, assuring stakeholders that the portal will reopen once the backlog is cleared.
Although the exact value of the backlog was not disclosed, Soneye stressed that the company is working diligently to resolve the issue.
IPMAN officials have previously raised concerns about the distribution system, urging the government to prioritize their members in fuel distribution. Hammed Fashola, IPMAN’s National Vice President, had earlier criticized NNPC for trapping marketers’ funds, claiming that marketers often have to wait up to three months for fuel supplies after payments are made.
Fuel prices remain high, with major marketers and NNPC outlets selling petrol for between N855 and N900 per litre, while independent stations are charging up to N1,000 per litre in some locations. This has led to an increase in transportation costs across the country, despite the slight reduction in fuel queues…….Read Full Article
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