Mega filling stations decry move to shut outlets

The Association of Mega Filling Stations Owners of Nigeria (AMFSON) has condemned moves by the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, to close down over 500 outlets, saying it would resist such moves. Speaking a news conference in Kaduna yesterday, the National Secretary of AMFSON, Comrade Kenneth Nwachukwu, said the allegation by the NNPC that operators of mega stations were piling up debts was unfounded. “The GMD of the NNPC had within the week given a hint at a meeting with energy editors in Lagos that the impending closure of the franchise outlets was as a result of rising debt profile which the parent body could no longer shoulder in the face of its dwindling revenue. If lifting the petroleum products had been on cash and carry basis, there couldn’t have been room for rising debts profile as alleged by the GMD. “The GMD should focus his searchlight on the NNPC staff who may be in the habit of diverting petroleum products to black markets for their own selfish interests. If affiliate outlets are closed down, it could amount to running back the country into underdevelopment’’, he said, adding that the importance of retail outlets could not be overemphasized if healthy economy is to be achieved and sustained. He said the association had made cash deposits for the supply of NNPC products for the past three months without receiving the supply and so cannot be said to be piling up debts. He said any move to shut down the over 500 outlets by the NNPC would send over 10,000 workers back to the labour market, adding that this would be untimely especially now that the federal government is making efforts to create employment.