Fuel scarcity to end in February

Despite receiving N413 billion in subsidy claims, petroleum marketers may have suspended fresh im­portation of petroleum products, Daily Sun learnt yesterday.

The development, ac­cording to some import­ers, who pleaded not to be named, may have been re­sponsible for the unabated fuel scarcity nation-wide. Indeed, some marketers told Daily Sun yesterday that the scarcity could linger till February 2016. Specifi­cally, they said the alleged plan by the Federal Govern­ment to remove subsidy on petrol next year and com­mence full deregulation by January 1, is already caus­ing ripples among market­ers.

The marketers, who claimed to be in full sup­port of the deregulation of the downstream sector, lamented that the secrecy surrounding its implemen­tation and take-off date is already causing uncertainty within the sector. “Market­ers are not against deregula­tion. But deregulation must be planned for. It must not be a hasty decision. We are entities that invest a lot in importation of petroleum products. If a decision that is to affect us must be taken, then, we must be taken into consideration. For now, un­certainty pervades the sec­tor,’ ’an importer said.