National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Paulinus Nta, Akwa Ibom
The Natural Oil and Gas Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) has threatened to cease the supply of petroleum and allied products to Akwa Ibom, citing rampant extortion along the East-West and Calabar-Itu roads.
During a press briefing, the Chairman of NOGASA, Sam Osung, highlighted the severity of the issue.
“Just yesterday, we received complaints from seven suppliers whose products were held up on the road until the following day. The public should know who to blame if there is a shortage of these products.”
Osung condemned the unethical practices prevalent in the petroleum downstream supply and distribution chain in Akwa Ibom.
He recalled a meeting on April 23rd with the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, where selected stakeholders discussed the fuel scarcity.
The governor instructed all groups to halt their activities and promised to establish a committee to investigate the artificially created fuel shortage, which had led to hoarding, price hikes, and the closure of retail outlets.
NOGASA has complied with the governor’s directive. “There are various marketers in the downstream sector, including the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria, and related groups such as the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria,” Osung explained.
According to him, NOGASA members supply a wide range of industrial hydrocarbons, including aviation turbine kerosene, marine gas oil, naphtha, automotive gas oil, dual-purpose kerosene, petrochemical oil (black oil), bitumen, blue oil, and liquefied petroleum motor spirit.
These products are essential for factories, industries, telecommunications towers, construction companies, oil companies, and other major end-users of petroleum products across the country.
“We purchase from depots and pay all required levies, including those to the PTD branch of NUPENG. It is outrageous that a branch of NUPENG is impounding our trucks in Akwa Ibom, demanding 50,000 naira from us,” Osung said.
He urged the state government and relevant security agencies to intervene and resolve the situation to prevent further complications.
