NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye confirmed the portal’s temporary closure, explaining that it was necessary to manage a significant backlog of orders. “The portal was shut down to prevent NNPC from holding marketers’ capital for extended periods due to the backlog,” Soneye stated. He assured marketers that the portal would be reopened once the backlog was sufficiently reduced.
Independent marketers reported that NNPC is working to resolve the issue, but the shutdown has created delays in supply. According to Chinedu Ukadike, National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), over 2,000 tickets for petrol supply, each representing 45,000 litres, remain pending with NNPC. This equates to over 90 million litres of petrol yet to be delivered.
The Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) also confirmed that its members could not access the portal, with President Billy Gillis-Harry acknowledging the widespread impact on the industry.
In the meantime, many marketers have turned to private depot owners, who are selling petrol at higher prices, contributing to increased costs at independent filling stations. The delays in petrol supply have led marketers to express frustration, noting that payments made through the NNPC portal often result in long waiting periods, sometimes extending up to three months.
IPMAN members have urged the Federal Government to prioritize independent marketers in petrol distribution, as they rely on cash-and-carry transactions with no credit facilities from NNPC. Some marketers have even suggested shifting their focus to purchasing petrol directly from the Dangote Refinery to ensure stable supply and price parity.
