Looming fuel scarcity as Petroleum Marketers threaten to shutdown.

Vehicles cue at a filling station. An effect of fuel scarcity.

Petroleum products marketers under the aegis of Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farms Owners of Nigeria (JEPTFON) have threatened to shut down operations with effect from Monday next week if government does not rectify the subsidy payment process.

The marketers, who ventilated their grievance over the federal government’s unilateral action to withhold payment of subsidy, said the action of government was threatening the continued survival of their business and the larger economy.

In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja on Friday, the Executive Secretary of the association, Enoch Kanawa said the withdrawal of subsidy payments is also a clear breach of contractual obligations, insisting that outstanding payments to subsidy claims should also be paid in full.

The jetties and tank farm owners also described as unacceptable the unguided statements by government officials labelling members of its association as fraudulent and irresponsible, demanding immediate apology.