NPA, NIMASA frustrating oil marketers on ease of importing fuel

The  Federal  Government efforts at reducing  the cost  of  importing  fuel  and  allowing  private sector participation in bringing  the product into the country  thereby  mitigating against fuel scarcity  is  being  frustrated  by the Nigerian Port  Authority and  Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), it has been alleged.

Oil marketers, who made the allegation, explained that this is because the two agencies have decided to disobey a Presidential directive which asked them to reverse the U.S. Dollar denominated port charges to Naira fees.

A letter written on January 17, 2018 directing the two agencies on the matter and sited by an earlier report by BuasinessDay stated that approval has been granted for the U.S dollar denominated fees to be reversed to Naira for oil importers by the presidency.

The letter which was signed by Abba Kyari, chief of staff at the Presidency stated, “kindly note that Mr. President has approved   that NPA and NIMASA charges, relating to petroleum products importation currently paid in U.S dollars under the PPPRA price template should henceforth be paid in Naira.

The letter was sent to Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu , minister  of  state for  petroleum and  copied  the Group Managing  Director of the NNPC and executive  secretary of the  PPPPRA .

The  PPPRA  which  was said to have  notified the  oil companies of the  presidential approval  told  them to get back  to it in case they  have any  difficulty with  the two agencies.

The two agencies it was learnt have refused to carry out the directive stating that their parent ministry which is the Ministry of Transport has not told them to do so.

The Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA ) which notified the oil companies of the  presidential approval   had told  the companies  to get back to it in case they encountered  any  challenges with  the two agencies.

“This  is  to bring   to the  attentions of  oil importers of the presidential approval that  NPA  and NIMASA charges relating to petroleum products  import under the PPPRA , pricing  Template should henceforth be paid in  Naira, as against the current practice of paying  in U.S Dollars,” a  source  from PPPRA stated.

This was  fall out  of a report the  presidential  committee on petroleum products   supply  and distribution, primarily set up to  address recent petroleum product scarcity, especially Premium Motor Spirit or petrol in the country.

Several attempt to find out what PPPRA is doing  where not successful as phone calls to some of its officials did not go through. While Isichei Osamgbi who is the spokes persons for MIMASA sent a text that he would get back to me but he never did. It was the same situation with Abdullahi Goge, the general manager, Communication, NPA.

Olusola  Bello