PETROLEUM Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has rejected requests by major and independent marketers for full disclosure of beneficiaries of fuel importation contracts approved for the third quarter.

The action of the agency is also in line with the information gathered, at the weekend, that top officials of the agency have recommended to the presidency to discard plans to commence full deregulation in the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry.

Petroleum marketers had petitioned presidency to protest the lack of level playing field in  fuel importation approval for third quarter released by PPPRA, recently.

A senior official of PPPRA, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, noted that the list of beneficiaries of fuel importation contract was a private document that was not meant for public consumption.

When  the agency was asked to provide information on the performance of contractors that participated in fuel importation during the second quarter, he added that it was practically impossible because nobody would compel banks to provide information on the performance of loans collected by customers.

An enquiry made by the Nigerian Tribune to the Executive Secretary of  PPPRA, Mr Abiodun Ibikunle, to provide a comprehensive list of  contractors and volume of  imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also was not granted. But one of his aides, who would not like to be quoted on the grounds that Mr Ibikunle is the only spokesperson for PPPRA, hinted that the final approval  for the third quarter  was  made  by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The NNPC, in a press release last week, had faulted speculation that the minister was interfering in NNPC, PPMC and the PPPRA.

He pointed that the executive secretary  would not talk on issues relating to fuel importation contract, except he was prepared to lose his job.

The aide  disclosed that marketers complaining of injustice in fuel importation contract were excluded or provided with small portion of approval granted, because their performance was below required standard in the third quarter.

“If a marketer was granted approval to import 100,000 metric tonnes (MT) during the second quarter and brought only 10,000MT, it will be wrong for us to approve the exact volume requested in third quarter,” he said.

The aide added: “PPPRA is granting approvals for fuel importation  in line with the requirements contained in the guideline of   Petroleum Support Fund.”

Five chief executive officers of Petroleum Marketing Companies, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, requested that they should not be linked to complaints on fuel importation scandal so that they would not lose out completely from importation contracts for PPPRA and NNPC.

The marketers had complained that most of them with jetty and depot facilities were excluded from importation contracts.

“President Goodluck Jonathan should probe officials saddled with the responsibility of fuel importation in PPPRA and the Ministry of Petroleum, if the presidency is free from this fuel importation contract scam,” they demanded.

However, top officials of PPPRA, who would not want to be named, disclosed that the presidency had been advised to dump the proposal to commence full deregulation in the downstream sub-sector since new refineries will reduce dependence on importation. They explained that on completion of the joint venture refineries, the nation will depend more on local sources to boost fuel supply. “Deregulation will make petroleum marketers to sell products beyond the reach of Nigerians,” the officials pointed out.

The NNPC, on behalf of the Federal Government, had entered into partnership with Chinese investors to establish new refineries in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa  states. These refineries are expected to add 750,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the 445,000bpd  capacity of the NNPC refineries.

Efforts made to speak with Mrs Alison-Madueke were unsuccessful. There was also no reply to text messages sent to her for reaction to the allegation.

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