By Moses Patience Chat
The Depots and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce and suspend some charges and levies that have been placed on them until stability is attained in the oil market.
The Association made this request during a meeting with President Tinubu on Wednesday in Abuja, where its Chairman, Dame Winifred Akpani, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company Limited, presented some demands to the President.
The demands brought before the President by DAPPMAN include the reduction of all dues and levies paid to government agencies, particularly the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). They appealed that levies be reduced to the barest minimum to make them payable in naira, as doing this will drastically reduce the pressure on the country’s foreign exchange and also keep the pump price of petrol in check.
The Association also asked for the suspension of all charges and taxes imposed on them by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as stipulated in the PIA 2021 until the country achieves market stability. It further requested for the removal of the 2.5 percent security deposit paid to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for all purchases, as it burdens marketers.
DAPPMAN also assured President Tinubu of their support for the move to deregulate fuel and to help his administration as it provides relief for Nigerians.