A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke who is the former Delta State gubernatorial aspirant, has faulted the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) over what he said is their middleman role in the supply chain of petroleum product from Dangote to the marketers.
Onuesoke who made the statement while reacting to the fuel pump price of Dangote Refinery released by NNPC said he expected Dangote Refinery to sell petroleum products directly to major or independent marketers without the inference as bridge.
He disclosed that the interference of NNPC in the supply chain of petroleum product Dangote Refinery no doubt will be affect the increment of prices of petroleum products in the country.
He recalled that NNPC has been functioning for the past twenty years without producing fuel, adding that it is appalling that the same organization that its refineries cannot produce fuel is interfering on how an independently refinery will sell its products to marketers.
Consequently, he called on the Federal Government to reorganize the corporation over its incapacitation to perform its role effectively to the benefit of Nigerians.
“The only organization in Nigeria that is not visible is the Nigeria National Petroleum Company NNPC.
“Is it a crime for Dangote to establish a refinery and sell petroleum products directly to major or independent marketers without NNPC coming in as a bridger? Of what importance is the role of NNPC by becoming a middleman between Dangote Refinery and major marketers?
“NNPC has been functioning for over twenty years without producing oil. We want to know what is the role of NNPC in a privately owned refinery like that of Dangote Refinery? We want to know why they are asking Dangote Refinery to sell their product through them to the marketers?
He argued that in developed countries, refineries sell directly to marketers and not the opposite of what we have in Nigeria where refinery sell to NNPC.
“For instance marketers buy directly from Total Oil in United States (US) who pump directly to their filling stations for the end users.
“Why is NNPC interfering in the case of Nigeria? Why is it that NNPC that cannot manage its own refinery coming in as bridge to make money from the sweat of others?
“They will buy from Dangote and sell to IPMAN or major marketers to make profit from what they did not work for. It is appalling,” he stated.
SOURCE: Independent