As the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country continues unbated, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the National Assembly to expedite action on passage of the supplementary budget.

This appeal was made Wednesday by the Assistant National Secretary of the association, Alhaji Ahmed Fashola,at an interactive session with the energy correspondents in Lagos.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari sent a supplementary budget of N465.64 billion to the National Assembly for appropriation which N413.64bn is for settlement of
subsidy claims.

Fashola said that the National Assembly should urgently pass the supplementary budget into law to arrest the going incessant fuel scarcity in the country adding that Government should also do the needful by ensuring the payment of the marketer’s subsidy claims.

“At the IPMAN level, we are also appealing to our members to try their best to assist government in resolving the persistent scarcity,’’ he said.

He said that surveillance and monitoring teams had been inaugurated to check defaulters as all independent marketers would begin 24-hours operations in their stations to reduce queues.

He promised that the fuel scarcity being witnessed across the country would soon end as the NNPC management had assured its members of sufficient supplies and based on the loading template, there has been changes.

Fashola warned its members operating in major cities to shun hoarding or selling of the products above pump price and that any marketer that has any challenge in dispensing products should contact the security operatives in the IPMAN zonal offices or headquarters in Abuja.

Fashola alleged that some private depot owners were deliberately denying members of the association from lifting products while commending the NNPC for ensuring direct supply of petrol to IPMAN members in order to stem the ongoing fuel scarcity.

He said that the national headquarters of IPMAN had nominated him to coordinate the western zone in pursuit of a common goal that would move the oil and gas industry forward.

According to him, am saddled to bring the marketers together ensure that we solve our internal problem so that we can actually protect our business,

“We  the IPMAN western zone to bounce back and continue their oil and gas business driven that will protect the collective and financial interest of members.

“We  want to come back fully as a one united association that is our focus for now and reason why l was appointment by the national body of IPMAN to coordinate marketers in the south west region,” he said.