No end in sight as marketers deny receiving N156bn from FG

monjola sotubo

May 1, 2015 11:12 AM

The FG stated on Thursday, April 30, 2015, that the sum had been paid to the marketers to ensure adequate fuel supply in the country.

Nigerian citizens waiting to purchase fuel at a petrol station

Oil marketers in Nigeria have denied receiving a subsidy payment of N156 billion from the Federal Government in order to end the current fuel scarcity plaguing the country.

However, as at 4.35 pm on Thursday, the Executive Secretary, Depot & Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), Odufemi Adewole, told Premium Times that none of its members and their counterparts in the Major Oil Marketers Association (MOMAN) had confirmed receiving any payment.

“The money government said it was paying to marketers has not yet hit our accounts. So, there is little we can do about the situation. The money the Minister of Finance promised to pay us last February did not get into our hands till about four or five weeks later,”Adewole said.

“If all members are not getting the money today, it means we have to wait till Monday. But, the truth is that nobody is going to call off the strike till the money is paid,” he added.

Adewole said further that no marketer was willing to take the risk of calling off the strike only for the government to fail to pay the money.

The marketers had forewarned the government that fuel would become scarce if they were not paid the N256.2 billion debt owed them.

monjola sotubo