The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has directed petroleum marketers who paid for fuel through its online portal to top up their payments in line with current prices or risk forfeiting their allocations.
Confirming the development to The PUNCH, NNPC spokesperson Andy Odeh explained that marketers unable to meet the new ex-depot rates may instead apply for refunds. He stressed that product loading cannot proceed at outdated payment levels once a price adjustment is made.
“Where payments have been made and there is a subsequent price adjustment before loading takes place, marketers are required to either pay the difference before lifting their products or, if they prefer, request a refund,” Odeh said. “NNPC can confirm that it has received refund requests from some marketers, and in line with our contractual obligations, those requests are currently being processed.”
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, to clear the backlog of loading tickets currently held in the company’s portal, stressing that the delays are affecting members’ operations.
The development highlights ongoing pressure in Nigeria’s downstream sector, where pricing adjustments continue to shape the flow of petroleum products to marketers and consumers.
