Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has criticised the role of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as a middleman in the supply chain of petroleum products from Dangote to marketers.
Onuesoke made the statement in response to the fuel pump price released by NNPCL for Dangote Refinery products.
He expressed his expectation that Dangote Refinery should sell petroleum products directly to major or independent marketers without NNPCL’s involvement.
The former governorship aspirant stated that the interference of NNPCL in the supply chain of Dangote Refinery products would inevitably contribute to price increases in the country.
He recalled that NNPCL has been operational for the past 20 years without producing fuel.
Onuesoke added that it is disheartening that the same organization, whose refineries cannot produce fuel, is now interfering in how an independent refinery sells its products to marketers.
Consequently, he called on the Federal Government to dismiss the Managing Director of NNPCL, Mr. Abba Kyari, and reorganise the corporation due to its inefficiency in fulfilling its role for the benefit of Nigerians.
“The only organization in Nigeria that is practically invisible is the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCL).
“Is it wrong for Dangote to establish a refinery and sell petroleum products directly to major or independent marketers without NNPCL acting as a middleman?
“What value does NNPCL add by becoming a middleman between Dangote Refinery and major marketers?
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“NNPCL has been functioning for over 20 years without producing oil. We want to know what NNPCL’s role is in a privately owned refinery like Dangote’s.
“Why are they insisting that Dangote Refinery sells its products through them to marketers?” he questioned.
Onuesoke argued that in developed countries, refineries sell directly to marketers, unlike in Nigeria, where refineries sell to NNPCL.
“For instance, in the United States, marketers buy directly from Total Oil, which pumps directly to their filling stations for end users.
“Why is NNPCL interfering in Nigeria? How can NNPCL, which cannot manage its own refineries, act as a middleman to profit from others’ efforts?
“They buy from Dangote and sell to IPMAN or major marketers to make a profit from something they didn’t contribute to. It’s appalling,” he concluded.
