The Federal Government has commenced the release of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol to Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

Mr Lawson Ngoa, the Secretary, IPMAN Reconciliation Committee, disclosed this to pressmen on Sunday in Abuja.

The nation is presently undergoing fuel scarcity across the nation. This scarcity is currently affecting the economy and livelihood of citizens as the price of goods and services have skyrocketed.

It would be recalled that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe kachikwu, constituted a 14-man committee to resolve IPMAN crisis and to ensure end to fuel scarcity in the country.

Ngoa said in the statement that the release of the petroleum products was part of efforts to settle the 7,000 pending loading tickets of IPMAN.

He stated that some of the marketers had confirmed that they began loading the products from some depots in Lagos as a result of the efforts of the Committee.

He noted that IPMAN controlled over 80 per cent of the petroleum products’ retail outlets in the country and that members were not getting products from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) due to internal leadership crisis since last two years.

Ngoa said the Committee had taken steps to ensure availability of products all over the country.

He thanked Nigerians for the patience and understanding during this trying time and assured that with the support of the minister of petroleum resources and his team, the scarcity would soon be over.

He further called on stakeholders to shun unnecessary rancour and join hands with the Committee to restore peace and normalcy in petroleum distribution.