‘We created petrol shortage so FG would pay us,’ marketers confess

monjola sotubo

May 18, 2015 3:14 PM

The marketers explained that they have been forced to hoard fuel due to the failure of the Federal Government to pay them the remaining subsidy debt.

Oil marketers in Nigeria have said the current fuel scarcity in the country is their creation, according to reports.

The marketers explained that they have been forced to hoard fuel due to the failure of the Federal Government to pay them the remaining subsidy debt, Vanguard reports.

The marketers reportedly said further that they had to manage the product they had due to uncertainty on what actions the incoming government of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari would take.

“My friend, we are not sure what the incoming government will do with us as from May 29. We need to force the present government to pay us our outstanding claims now. We love this country, but we need to be sure we have products now, because we do not know what will befall us in the next two weeks,” a marketer, who chose to remain anonymous, told Vanguard.

“We are all aware how a new government behaves in Nigeria. There is uncertainty of what the incoming government will do with us as regards the subsidy. If you were in our shoes, wouldn’t you make sure you get every kobo owed you by the present administration? What better way can you do that than to keep what you have?” another marketer said.

Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala earlier told the marketers that the remaining money would be paid by the incoming government but her assurances have apparently fallen on deaf ears.

monjola sotubo