Fuel Scarcity: President Goodluck Jonathan Orders Marketers To Be Paid

                              

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered that oil marketers be paid their outstanding claims for the importation of petroleum products so as to end the fuel scarcity across the country.

The scarcity of petrol was due to the expiration of the three-day ultimatum given by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) to the Federal Government with regards to non payment of subsidy.

While the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) are engaged in a face-off with MOMAN, the major oil marketers are angry with the Federal Government for not paying its members’ subsidy claims.

MOMAN on Friday threatened to stop the importation of petroleum products over yet-to-be-paid N256 billion subsidy claim by the Federal Government.

The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr Obafemi Olawore, issued the threat at news conference in Lagos.  Olawore said that the last time the government paid marketers N100 billion subsidy claim was in February and it was paid in Sovereign Debt Note (SDN).  

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has on Wednesday expressed concern over the fuel scarcity being witnessed in some parts of the country, stating that oil marketers would on Thursday receive the sum of N156bn as payment for fuel subsidy.  

The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated this while speaking during an interview with journalists shortly after declaring open the 20th conference of Directors General of Customs of the World Customs Organization.

The minister while sympathizing with Nigerians whose lives are being disrupted by queues, said the government is working hard to end the scarcity within the shortest time possible.

She said despite the revenue challenges facing the government, the issue of fuel subsidy payments to oil marketers had always been prioritized by the Federal Government.