Scarcity: Operational issues, inefficient supply system responsible~ Billy Harry

The National President, Petrol Station Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, Billy Harry, says operational issues and lack of adequate supply system are factors hindering the implementation of the regulated fuel price of N165 per liter for PMS.

Harry made the disclosure during a live TV appearance on TVC, while responding to questions relating to the lingering fuel crisis in parts of the Country.

He attributed the high cost of running retail outlets, which puts the landing cost of PMS, between N172 to N179 per liter and inefficient supply system that will guarantee steady supply of petroleum products being responsible for the scarcity of petroleum products experienced.

Responding to the issue of Subsidy, he said ” When you talk about subsidy, who is exactly benefiting from the subsidy? We, as retail outlets owners, are not importing products, the Independent marketers are not importing products. So who is importing? There is only NNPC that is importing petroleum products, to which we buy from them and deliver to the Nigerian Public. So, we don’t have any access to importing products by ourselves.”

On the possible way forward, he said: ” The way forward is very simple. We desire to make provisions by contributing to the general stakeholders meetings that should be able to address the issues effectively.

“We know that there will be some practical and technical things that we can do, that will ensure that fuel scarcity do not creep on us again.

” One of those things will be, to clearly define the regulation procedure for petroleum products. All of it! PMS, Aviation Fuel, DPK, AGO and all of that. And then, we should be able to, in the meantime, in a short time, designate very strategic depot that will be able to help and make sure that products are supplied to them from NNPC. I think this is what can easily solve the problem without making Nigerians to suffer.”