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| Marketers commence 24-hr loading |
The end appears in sight for the persistent
fuel scarcity that has rocked most cities in the country, as the Senate
committees on Petroleum brokered a truce among the feuding stakeholders in the
sector.
Chairman,
Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe, who presided
over a meeting alongside his counterpart in the Upstream Committee, Senator
Emmanuel Paulker, told newsmen in Abuja, on Monday, that the oil marketers, as
well as unions in the sector had all agreed to end the scarcity.
The
meeting, held at the New Senate wing, was attended by the Coordinating Minister
for the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Group Managing
Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Department of
Petroleum Resources (DPR), major and independent oil marketers. Other
stakeholders in attendance included the NNPC, Major Oil Marketers Association
of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depots and Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), among
others.
According to Senator Abe, the meeting
resolved that stakeholders, as well as the striking workers, immediately call
off the strike, while oil lifting was to resume immediately.
The
meeting resolved that oil marketers and depot owners, as well as the NNPC, must
commence lifting of petroleum products within six hours of the resolution,
while depot owners are to ensure 24 hours service within the next two weeks, to
ensure that fuel situation is normalised across the country.
It
was also agreed that the committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the
Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), set up to reconcile
outstanding debts owed oil marketers, should continue its assignment.
The
meeting resolved that if the committee was unable to complete its assignment
within the life of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, the
incoming administration would take over.
Minister
of Finance and the oil marketers were, however, unable to agree at the meeting
on the correct figures owed the marketers by the government.
While
the marketers claimed that government was owing N200 billion, the minister
insisted that over N150 billion had not been verified.
The
meeting was also told that the striking workers, under the aegis of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria PENGASSAN and the
National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), had called off
their strike.
The
meeting at a stage went into closed door, ostensibly to allow some form of
reconciliation between government delegation and the marketers.
The
agreement, as read out by Senator Abe, indicated that “the Minister of Finance
will give an undertaking to the major marketers (MOMAN) and DAPMAN that the
work of the committee, being headed by the CBN/PPPRA will be concluded.”
"If
it is concluded in verifying the outstanding claims before the end of the life
of this administration, it would be reflected in the handover notes to the new
president.”
"If
it is not concluded, then, the fact that such a committee was set up and is working
will be reflected in the handover notes and a copy of the letter, conveying the
existence of this committee, will be sent to MOMAN and DAPMAN and also, a copy
will be sent to us in this committee.”
“On
the basis of that agreement, MOMAN will offer whatever cooperation that is
needed to enable lifting of petroleum products to begin nationwide within six
hours.
“MOMAN
has also agreed to give a similar undertaking to NARTO to pay existing
transport costs as has been determined by them.”
"MOMAN
will give a written undertaking to NARTO and a copy will also be sent to this
committee. NARTO and its affiliates nationwide will commence lifting of
petroleum products from available fuel depots within the next six hours.”
“DAPMAN
is to instruct all their depots that have products to open them up to lifting
of petroleum products within the next six hours.
“We
have also agreed with DPR that any depot that has product and fails to lift in
the next six hours should have their licences revoked immediately.
“We
have also agreed that NNPC should direct its staff nationwide to work 24 hours,
including Saturdays and Sundays, for the next two weeks, until normalcy returns
to the sector.
“NUPENG
and PENGASSAN strike has been called off due to the intervention of the GMD of
NNPC.
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