Retailers expected to pay vehicle owners compensation- FCCPC
The federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (formerly Consumer Protection Council) says an arrangement has been put in place to ensure that retailers compensate motorists whose vehicles were damaged by adulterated fuel supplied by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company.
The Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, said this on Thursday.
Irukera stated, “The FCCPC has been engaging with respect to the issues arising with irregular fuel sold in parts of the country.
“Current engagement shows that key relevant stakeholders have arranged for retailers to accept responsibility for repair and restoration of damaged vehicle/equipment. The respective legal departments are working to establish a framework that does not not address injury that falls within the category stated above”.
Also speaking, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), said claims and complaints would be sent to the FCCPC on Friday.
However, the Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, said claims would be forwarded to the NNPC.
He, however said, if it does not get a favourable response from the NNPC, the marketers would seek redress.
Osatuyi said, “We are not going to sue the government but we are going to collect data of affected stations and what it cost us and pass it to the authorities so that we don’t have problems. This has happened and they are trying to mitigate the problem”.
On whether he was sure of compensation, he responded, “They have no choice. This is clear. It is when we engage them and present figures and if they are trying to be funny, we will do what we can do within the ambit of the law”.
Osatuyi advised the Federal Government to ensure that the country has refineries so that Nigeria would stop importing fuel.
