•IPMAN blames private depots for hike in price
•NNPC depots lack products, says marketers
The last may not have been heard of the fuel scarcity that hit Lagos, as indications emerged that the product may sell for between N195 and N210 per litter, depending on the location.
SlyeNews gathered that the current scarcity in Lagos was as a result of indiscriminate hike in fuel price at the private depots, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) depots are lacking products.
The price was jerked from fuel N148.17 per litre to N178 per litre at the depots, thereby making it unrealistic for filling stations to sell at N170 official pump price.
The situation has resulted to fuel scarcity in the state as several stations are locked up, while few of them were rationing the available products. Commuters were seeing stranded at bus stops finding means of getting to various destinations after a busy day.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone, has blamed the private depots for the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit.
Chairman, IPMAN Western zone,Alhaji Dele Tajudeen, while condemning the increase, said that there had been increase in depot price of fuel from N148.17 per litre to N178 per litre since last week.
According to him, none of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) depots have product and the private depots took advantage of the situation to hike the price.
“The only option for our members is to opt for private depots to keep our business moving.
“We are totally against the increase because it will affect our profit margins and the masses.
“Some private depots who have product, deliberately, refused to sell for reasons best known them,” he said.
The IPMAN chairman said that the marketers should not be blamed for the increase in pump price, adding that “selling at N170 per litre is not realistic”.
Tajudeen said: “Therefore, our members have no other option than to sell between N195 and N200 per litre within Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, while we will sell between N200 and N210 in Kwara, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states.
“Most of the tank farm owners have justified this increase because of different charges, among which is vessels charges paid in dollars.
“We are equally calling on the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to investigate the arbitrary increase in fuel price by the private depot owners” he stated.
Efforts to reach the Spokesperson of NNPCL, Garbadeen Mohammed was not fruitful as his phone was not responding and he did not respond to text messages as at press time.
