The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) yesterday
gave the Federal Government two weeks ultimatum to settle the N200
billion fuel subsidy debts owed the association or be ready for
prolonged scarcity.
Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, issued the threat
yesterday in Lagos at a media briefing to update Nigerians on the
latest development in the petroleum products supply chain.
Olawore while acknowledging the receipt of N154 billion subsidy
claims from the Federal Government, explained that the N200 billion
outstanding debt is taking a negative toll on the operations of the
association.
The MOMAN scribe said the current fuel scarcity was further
compounded by the strike embarked upon by the National Association of
Road Transport Owners(NARTO) as a result of the inability of MOMAN to
pay it over N20 billion debt.
The secretary explained that with the understanding of the NARTO and
Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) that a grace of two weeks be granted to
enable government effect balance of the money, the action has been
temporarily suspended.
But as part of measures to find a lasting solution to the lingering
crisis, he said MOMAN has scheduled a meeting with the Minister of
Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Monday, adding that if nothing
concrete comes out of the meeting, NARTO members have threatened to
withdraw its services of petroleum products lifting.
With this development, he said MOMAN would not be able to offset the
N20 billion owed NARTO, rather he said part of the debt would be
settled.
Recall that
Saturday Sun had last week given a breakdown of
the N356.2 subsidy debt to include; outstanding debt on forex and
interest N215,868,237,459 while payment for Batch T of 2014 stood at
N21,920,240,980.23 and Batch U 2014 at another N8,607,109,593.82 with
Batch A 2015 amounting to N6,873,232,365.66 and Batch B 2015 at
N2,911,139,639.70.
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