FG blames corrupt oil marketers for fuel scarcity
Long Fuel Queue at the Total Filling Station Central Area opposite NNPC Headquarters in Abuja Photo: Bashir Balogun
Federal government yesterday has reacted to the long queues at fuel stations noticed in some parts of the country including the nation’s capital, Abuja, saying the discredited oil marketers threatening to go on strike are responsible.
A statement issued by Paul Nwabuikwu, the senior special assistant to the coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on Nigerians to disregard the threats and not to engage in panic purchase of petroleum products.
He described the attitude of the discredited oil marketers, and their threat, as “baseless and inaccurate”. According to him, the marketers with legitimate claims have been fully paid, adding that only ones yet to receive payments are those indicted by the Aig-Imoukhuede presidential committee which investigated fuel subsidy payments.
The statement reads in full: “The claim by some marketers that they have embarked on strike because the federal government has failed to pay them for fuel imports is not accurate. The true position is that the Federal Government has been meeting its obligations to oil marketers in respect of all legitimate claims.
“For instance, between April and May 2012, Batches D/12 and E/12 involving 14 oil marketers with a claim of N17 billion were fully settled through the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes and other relevant documentation. In addition, since the directive by the coordinating minister to the DMO to continue payments of all verified claims, N25.6 billion worth of claims have been fully settled with the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes.
“In all, between April and August this year, in respect of 2012 PMS claims, Sovereign Debt Notes amounting to N42.666 billion have been issued to 31 oil marketers. However, the claims by marketers recommended for further investigation by the Aig-Imoukhuede Presidential Committee have not been paid.
“Payments or sanctions to this category of marketers will be determined by the outcome of investigations. Against this background, it is clear that the strike was instigated mainly by marketers who were indicted by the Aig-Imoukhuede Committee which investigated fuel subsidy payments.
“Their obvious intention is to blackmail the Federal Government in order to escape sanctions for the crimes they have committed. Nigerians should not be deceived by their antics. Such tactics will not succeed because the Federal Government is determined to ensure that persons and organisations which did the wrong things do not get away with wrong actions and wrong behaviour.
“As we have communicated severally in the last few months, payment of marketers whose claims have been verified will continue to go on in a consistent and structured way which protects the best interests of the country. All marketers who have genuine issues to raise regarding their claims are encouraged to come forward for discussions or clarifications.”
Filed Under: Business News
