Oil marketers in Nigeria have said the current fuel scarcity in the country is their creation, according to reports.
The
marketers explained that they have been forced to hoard fuel due to the
failure of the Federal Government to pay them the remaining subsidy
debt, Vanguard reports.
The marketers reportedly
said further that they had to manage the product they had due to
uncertainty on what actions the incoming government of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari would take.
“My
friend, we are not sure what the incoming government will do with us as
from May 29. We need to force the present government to pay us our
outstanding claims now. We love this country, but we need to be sure we
have products now, because we do not know what will befall us in the
next two weeks,” a marketer, who chose to remain anonymous, told Vanguard.
“We
are all aware how a new government behaves in Nigeria. There is
uncertainty of what the incoming government will do with us as regards
the subsidy. If you were in our shoes, wouldn’t you make sure you get
every kobo owed you by the present administration? What better way can
you do that than to keep what you have?” another marketer said.
Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
earlier told the marketers that the remaining money would be paid by
the incoming government but her assurances have apparently fallen on
deaf ears.
