Fresh fears of fuel scarcity as oil marketers insist on strike

Oil marketers on Saturday, denied signing any agreement with the Federal Government over the lingering N800 billion subsidy arrears.

The oil marketers also insisted that their ultimatum to cease depots operations on Monday remained unchanged.

The Executive Secretary of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) Mr. Olufemi Adewole, said in a statement in Lagos that offers by government failed to meet the legitimate demands of the association.

“We did not sign the purported document with government as claimed. We still stand by our ultimatum which will expire on Monday”, Adewole said in the statement.

It would be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Finance had in a December 6 statement signed by the Spokesman to the Minister of Finance, Paul Abechi, said that the Federal Government and petroleum marketers had agreed on the settlement of outstanding claims.

The ministry, in the statement, also assured that operations at all depots and sales would continue until further notice

The meeting between FG representatives and the oil marketers followed a December seven-days ultimatum issued by the marketers for government to settle outstanding N800 billion subsidy payment, failing which they would cease depots operations.

Read also: SUBSIDY DEBT: FG, oil marketers reach truce on mode of payment

The oil marketers however said in the statement issued on Saturday: “We refer to the press release from the Federal Ministry of Finance following the meeting with marketers under the aegis of DAPPMAN, MOMAN and IPMAN and most respectfully refute its contents with the following clarifications.

“DAPPMAN reiterates that there was no agreement reached because offers by government failed to meet the legitimate demands of the association and we did not sign the purported document.

“Hence, our ultimatum stands as we cannot continue to borrow from banks to pay staff salaries.

“DAPPMAN’s demands made to the FG through the Honourable Minister of Finance and Debt Management Office was to pay cash and the total sum of indebtedness to marketers within the time frame.

“This was expressed in communications with the government, Ministry and other relevant offices.”

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