IPMAN urges FG to liberalise kerosene importation

The Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria on Thursday advised the Federal Government to liberalise the importation of kerosene.The Chairman of IPMAN in the zone, Mr. Olumide Ogunmade, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that this was the only way to prevent marketers from converting kerosene to aviation fuel.Ogunmade said IPMAN was not involved in the importation of aviation fuel as major marketers were given preferential treatment to import the product.He said that if importation of kerosene was liberalised and all marketers were allowed to import the product, it would go a long way in addressing the issue of diversion.He said, "I think it is the Federal Government that is creating scarcity of kerosene due to the fact that it is the only agency that is importing kerosene."I think if marketers are allowed to import the product, issues of converting kerosene to aviation fuel by some marketers will not occur. The IPMAN boss stressed that the diversion of kerosene to aviation fuel would not have arisen if many marketers were importing the product."As long as there is scarcity, people will intend to make fast money and there is no way you can run from these issues," he said.Ogunmade said the Western zone of the association was planning to establish a refinery if it could find technical partners.
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