Even though the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) last week claimed that the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol remains N133.28 per litre and that Nigerians should ignore any speculations that pump price will soon increase, fuel marketers have faulted such defence, describing it as camouflage allegedly emanating from the NNPC.
Findings by Shipping Position Daily last week revealed that not more than three independent marketers were having fuel to dispense in Apapa. The tank farms are; Rahamaniya depot, Obat depot and MRS depot at the Tin Can Island Port.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily, one of the operators at Ascon Oil, Apapa, Mr, Owolabi Jimoh confirmed that MRS Depot and others were dispensing the product at between N139 and N140 per litre.
Mr. Jomoh stated that “NNPC is selling at N133.30, meanwhile if you are buying the product from the depot, the cost of hiring a truck to convey the product would be added. The transportation alone would add N3 on the price making it N143 per litre, how can you now sell at N145 per litre at fuel stations?
“The NNPC is just saying that in the media for record purpose, the information is a camouflaged news”
Also reacting to the looming price hike, some motorist who spoke with our correspondent complained that filling stations are now adjusting their meters in order to make profit and still to be compliant with the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template.
One Bart Onyeka told our correspondent at the Ibeto Oil tank farm last week that “Even the N145 per litre is no longer complete at the filling stations, I bought 10 litres and what they sold to me was 7litres, some of them would write 143 on their signboard but it’s a lie”
Ndu Ughamadu, the NNPC Group Spokesman, last week disclosed that NNPC held stock of over 1billion litres, adding that imports of 48 vessels of 50million litres each have been committed for the month of April alone.
He advised Nigerians to remain vigilant and volunteer information to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Industry regulator or to any law enforcement agency around them, on any station which sells petrol beyond N145 per litre.
"The ex-depot price of PMS remains N133.28 per litre as at today and this is according to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template”
"NNPC remains the sole importer of the product and we have not increased the price we sell to marketer.
"There is no plan to increase pump price, Nigerians should know that," he said.
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