Retailers predict exploitation as FG reopens some filling stations in border communities after six years

• The national authorities has moved to reopen filling stations unopen down nether President Muhammadu Buhari successful 2019
• These filling stations were unopen down due to the fact that of the summation successful petrol smuggling activities successful the borderline communities wherever they were located
• However, the caller determination to reopen immoderate filling stations and permission others unopen has travel nether superior criticism

Legit.ng journalist Ruth Okwumbu-Imafidon has implicit a decennary of acquisition successful business reporting crossed integer and mainstream media.

In a bid to clamp down connected the activities of smugglers moving petroleum products from Nigeria to neighbouring countries, the national authorities unopen down implicit 400 filling stations successful borderline communities successful 2019.

This led to undue scarcity of the product, causing a hike successful cases wherever it was available. Reports showed that residents of these borderline communities bought PMS astatine N2,000 adjacent erstwhile the merchandise inactive sold astir N1,000 successful Nigeria.

Responding to the cries of Nigerians successful borderline communities, the national authorities precocious lifted the embargo and reopened immoderate of the filling stations successful borderline communities.

The retailers noted that immense investments person been made into each of these filling stations and it was unfair to support them unopen portion their counterparts are reopened. Photo credit: Pius Utomi Ekpei
Source: Getty Images

Retailers person reacted to the government’s decision, complaining astir the selective reopening of the filling stations portion others remained shut.

FG reopens immoderate filling stations

A connection from the lawmaker representing Yewa North and Imeko/Afon Federal Constituency successful Ogun State, Gboyega Isiaka, confirmed that restrictions person been lifted for the merchantability and proviso of petroleum products successful communities wrong 20km of Nigeria’s borders with the Republic of Benin.

Isiaka noted that the determination would bring alleviation to these borderline towns including Imeko, Oja Odan, Ilara and Ihunbe, the PUNCH reports.

On the contrary, petroleum retailers noted that the determination would effect successful much profiteering owed to the monopoly enjoyed by the filling stations that person been reopened.

They questioned the rationale down leaving filling stations closed and preventing Nigerians successful borderline communities from accessing a merchandise that should beryllium sold freely.

Retailers telephone for the reopening of each filling stations

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) spokesman, Chinedu Ukadike, said the continued prohibition ran contrary to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, which ordered the proviso of substance to each Nigerians careless of their location.

“It is an aberration to our licences that were fixed to america by the NMDPRA. The authorities licensed these fueling stations, and the marketers person spent billions of naira to physique these filling stations astir these borderline areas, which are besides occupied by Nigerians. "Fundamentally, their rights person been breached by not allowing them to person the aforesaid substance proviso arsenic different citizens.”

He urged the authorities to beef up information activities astir the borders to forestall smuggling and reopen the stations for continued operations.

Ukadike warned that the forces of request and proviso volition enactment the residents astatine the mercy of the fewer filling stations successful operation, compelling them to bargain astatine immoderate terms is offered.

The authorities noted that smugglers instrumentality vantage of the terms quality to smuggle petroleum products into different countries and marque profits. Photo credit: Contributor/Pius Utomi Ekpei
Source: Getty Images

Lawmaker calls connected retailers to enactment responsibly

In his remarks connected the level of the house, Honourable Isiaka called connected the filling presumption operators to enactment responsibly to warrant the spot reposed successful them by the national government.

He noted that advocacy and engagement would proceed until the restrictions are removed completely.

Petrol marketers protestation arsenic implicit 400 filling stations stay shut

Legit.ng precocious reported that petroleum marketers lamented their losses arsenic implicit 400 filling stations remained unopen for 6 years.

Since 2019, much than 400 filling stations tally by autarkic lipid marketers successful the borderline communities person remained unopen down owed to the national government's determination to tame smuggling.

With substance selling for up to N8,000 per litre successful neighbouring countries, the Nigeria Customs Service argued that the filling stations would assistance smugglers determination the merchandise retired of the state for higher profits.

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Source: Legit.ng