Aloga Ogbogo, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, said on Monday in Abuja that the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector was the way forward in solving fuel scarcity in the country.
Ogbogo said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
He said although the association was indifferent about the new pump price, it believed that it would solve the current problem.
He observed that filling stations outside the FCT and Lagos sold at higher prices before the deregulation, adding that if the new price was adhered to, the situation would be better.
Ogbogo said: “The issue is that it is not okay per say; it is neither here nor there but the issue is that it is the only way forward for now.
“We are only thinking and believing that it will solve the problem because it is imperative.
“If you look at the template by PPPRA, it is not realistic and the fact that foreign exchange is sourced from the black market does not make it easy for marketers to source foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“For procurement of petroleum products, it is not as if we are comfortable with the price increase as it is, but if that is the only way forward in solving the problem so be it.”
The executive secretary said as a transport union, the availability of the product was most paramount for it.
NAN.