The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has reported that its members are currently facing a severe shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (commonly known as petrol) amidst a widespread scarcity of fuel across the country.
IPMAN, which represents over 3,000 members and controls the largest share of filling stations nationwide, is experiencing significant supply challenges. According to Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, the Chairman of IPMAN’s Ore Depot, Engr. Shina Amoo, explained that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the sole importer of petroleum products, has failed to supply its members with sufficient quantities to meet their needs over the past three years.
He stated, “There is no supply anywhere. The limited supply available is not properly distributed. We have been raising concerns about the distribution pattern for a long time. Previously, we had an arrangement where we enjoyed a 70/30 supply ratio based on our capacity. If you visit rural and urban areas, you will find numerous independent marketers where major or semi-major marketers are absent.
“But now, IPMAN is not even considered when it comes to supply. If you visit 50 petrol stations and take a random sample, you’ll find that only three to eight are actually selling products. And the products we are selling are purchased at premium prices. Almost all the depots sell to us at their preferred prices, ranging from ₦750 to ₦850.
“For years now, private depots have been selling to us at these high prices, rather than the ₦560 per litre we should be getting from NNPC. None of our members have received products directly from NNPC in the past 2-3 years. When we pay for products from NNPC, it can take between three to five months to actually receive them, by which time any potential profit has been lost.
“Due to this, we prefer to source products from private depots. They sell to independent marketers at a premium, ranging from ₦800 to ₦870 per litre.
“Previously, when we made payments to NNPC, we would wait about a week to load products. But now, the process is lengthy and bureaucratic, often taking around four months to access the products. We now resort to sourcing products from depots in Delta State, even if it means paying about ₦22 per litre for transportation to land at Akure. This is the reality we are facing.
“NNPC supplies the depots, but the distribution pattern has changed. When NNPC abandoned the previous distribution pattern, they stopped supplying IPMAN and instead focused on DAPPMAN and MEMAN. The volume allocated to us is insufficient for our operations.”
Amoo identified the major issues as the fuel subsidy system and NNPCL’s role as the sole importer. He also noted that after the removal of subsidies, prices at depots rose, and suggested that if corruption were eliminated from the downstream sector, product prices would decrease.
 has reported that its members are currently facing a severe shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (commonly known as petrol) amidst a widespread scarcity of fuel across the country.){kind=link}