Fuel marketers across Nigeria are calling on the Federal Government to reconsider the ban on the supply of petroleum products in border communities, citing significant adverse effects on their businesses.
The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Maigandi, expressed these concerns.
The ban, implemented by the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, aimed to curb illegal activities such as fuel smuggling and diversion.
However, since the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, calls for lifting the ban have intensified, with appeals from Nigerians and the National Assembly.
Despite the acknowledgment by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, that the ban should be lifted after the subsidy removal, the current administration has yet to take action.
Marketers, whose livelihoods are impacted by the ban, feel neglected by the government’s inaction.
Maigandi emphasized that while the initial rationale for the ban was to address security concerns, it has led to severe losses for marketers, jeopardizing their investments and sources of income.
IPMAN has initiated discussions with the government, advocating the restoration of normal business operations for its members.
Surajudeen Bada, Chairman of the Oil and Gas Traders Association in Ogun State, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the contradiction between the ban and the government’s earlier approvals.
He emphasized the hardship faced by marketers and called for enhanced border surveillance to tackle smuggling activities effectively.
The plea from fuel marketers underscores the need for a balanced approach to address security challenges while ensuring the sustenance of legitimate business activities in border communities.
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