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 that, besides the 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, it is also 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 and other business moguls like Aliko Dangote to ensure that the industries are revamped and be made to enhance petroleum refining. Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, 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. He hinted that, already, more than 50 vessels are betting in Nigeria and that if the refineries start working, it will ameliorate the fuel scarcity situation. Emphasizing that there is uncertainty hovering in the oil industry which has propelled most of the fuel scarcity situations, the IPMAN President maintained that unless the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed into law before a permanent solution to the fuel crisis be achieved.
