Oil marketers in Nigeria have reported significant disruptions in petrol supply due to the shutdown of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) portal, which is used for purchasing petrol. This closure has prevented marketers from applying for petrol, leaving them awaiting over 90 million litres, valued at approximately N79 billion.
The shutdown was confirmed last month by NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, who cited a backlog as the reason for the closure. Soneye stated that the portal was closed to avoid holding marketers’ funds for extended periods. He reassured that the portal would reopen once the backlog is addressed.
As of the weekend, marketers reported that NNPC is working to clear the backlogs, with independent marketers claiming they have over 2,000 pending orders, or tickets, yet to be fulfilled. The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike, indicated that while some petrol is still being loaded, the inability to access the portal has made it challenging to provide current prices.
Marketers have turned to private depot owners to source petrol, which they claim is sold at a premium, resulting in higher prices at their filling stations compared to NNPC and major marketers. Historically, payments for petrol have been made through the NNPC portal, which has led to prolonged waits for product delivery, often stretching to months.
In past interviews, IPMAN officials have criticized NNPC’s distribution patterns, stating that they often pay upfront but face significant delays in receiving supplies. The association has called for the government to review the distribution model to prioritize independent marketers.
Currently, marketers are considering sourcing petrol directly from Dangote to ensure more stable pricing and supply.
News Editor