By Omotilewa Quadri
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the federal government to reduce the multiple charges instituted for importation of fuel products, saying it will provide a permanent solution to the lingering scarcity and stabilize the price of fuel in the country.
National President of IPMAN, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo stated this in Abuja while speaking to National Assembly correspondents, Thursday. He said the unabated fuel scarcity situation has caused hardship to the generality of people.
He explained multiple charges, which he said are issued illegally by Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in dollars, are hampering ease of doing business in addition to making petroleum products inadequate and unavailable to solve the needs of the people.
Noting that the non-functionality of oil refineries in the country is major challenge to the oil sector, the association urged the federal government to ensure that the industries are revamped and be made to enhance petroleum refining.
According to Okoronkwo, if the multiple charges are reduced, it will further, not only ease the cost of landing of petroleum products, but make the price of fuel cheaper and stable.
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