Fuel Crisis Looms As Fuel Marketers Shut Down Operations

Nigerians are bracing up for another round of fuel crisis as the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has directed its members to shut down all loading operations by midnight.

The directive is coming on the heels of claims of N800bn subsidy debt by the federal government. Government had agreed to pay N236 billion out of the N348 billion approved by the National Assembly by Friday.

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However, the DAPPMAN had insisted on its 7-day ultimatum.

In a statement on Sunday and signed by Olufemi Adewole, its executive secretary, the oil marketers said they have disengaged their staff due to inability to pay salaries.

“The Association took a bold step to stop the financial hemorrhaging of its members by the painful disengagement of its loyal workers after over 3 years of engaging with the Federal Government in the efforts to secure the payment of all subsidy induced debt owed marketers,” the statement read.

“To avoid owing staff without any hope of pay, it is hereby agreed that since all our staff have been disengaged, ALL DAPPMAN Member depot are not in a position to operate hence WILL SHUT DOWN ALL LOADINGS AT MIDNIGHT, Sunday, December 9.”

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The ministry of finance had claimed that there was an agreement between the FG and the marketers, a claim that was dismissed as untrue by the DAPPMAN.

A statement by Adewole reiterated that there was no agreement, claiming that offers by the ministry failed to meet the association’s legitimate demands.

On Saturday, Henry Ikem-Obih, chief operating officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) downstream, had assured that the Debt Management Office would pay N236 billion out of the N348 billion approved by the national assembly as outstanding subsidy claims on Friday.

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