The Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria on Tuesday appealed to the Federal Government to look into their subsidy claims so that they could commence full importation.
Olufemi Adewole, the Executive Secretary of the association, made the appeal in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
Adewole said the few oil marketers that were able to import few cargoes into the country recently succeeded in getting loans from their banks due to their rapport.
He said other marketers were not importing due to their inability to offset their loans.
He said: “The marketers are finding it hard to import because they relied on the subsidy claim from government to offset their loan from banks.
“They owe their foreign business partners and it will sound ridiculous to ask for more when they have not paid what they owe.
“The few oil marketers that have good rapport with their banks were able to import few cargoes into the country few weeks ago.
“That is why we had a bit of relief recently.
“Until the Federal Government releases the subsidy claim owed the oil marketers, the marketers cannot commence full time importation of the products.
“The products being imported by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation will not be enough for our consumption.”
NAN recalls that the oil marketers on June 4 said they were still being owed more than N291 billion subsidy claims by the Federal Government and denied that they were saboteurs.
NAN.