Soji Ajibola
The Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN) has blamed the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) for the scarcity and unofficial increase of the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirits, (PMS) otherwise known as petrol from N165 per litre to between N180 and N200 per litre as applicable in some areas in the South west axis of the Country.
Commuters and other end users of the products in the past few days had been subjected to untold hardship in Oyo and neighboring states as they were forced to pay through their nose.
Most filling stations were put under lock and key while few that are dispensing fuel are selling between N180 and N200 per litre as against the official rate of N165 per litre.
Justifying an unofficial increase in an interview on an Ibadan based radio station, the Ibadan branch chairman of IPMAN Bukola Mutiu dropped the blame at the doorstep of the NNPC and other regulatory bodies.
He stated that for some time now marketers from the South west have not been able to buy directly from the NNPC, as they have to rely on the third party, thereby necessitating the increase that consumers and other end users are experiencing now.
According to him, our members are now buying directly from marketers that have Tank farms either in Lagos or Warri.
He said, “These people are not selling at the official rate and by the time you add the cost of transportation to the loading cost, there is no way we can sell at the government official rate of N165 per litre.
“The price varies from one location to the other depending on the loading station. While marketers in Ibadan and the neighbouring communities are selling at N180 per litre, the situation in Oke Ogun and other states in the region differ.
“The increment in pump price should not be seen as an act of callousness on the part of our members. We are being compelled by the present situation. Even though few of our members are selling at N165 per litre. These are the categories of people that have direct access to the NNPC or have their own Tank farms,
“I am assuring the people that if the situation improves, we will revert to the official price of N165 per litre.”
Similarly, the Secretary of the Ejigbo Unit of IPMAN, Akeem Balogun, said in a statement on Monday that the current price of PMS was no longer sustainable.
Balogun said that it was no longer possible to sell the product at below N180 per liter.
He advised members to sell at what he described as the sustainable price and report back to the association in the event of any development
“Distinguished marketers, the Chairman and executives in conjunction with some senior members of our unit, organised a press conference today 20th June 2022, at IPMAN HOUSE Ejigbo Lagos, where we explained our predicament with the current price of PMS at private depot.
“We explained that with the current price, there is no way we can sell less than N180 per litre. On this note, members are hereby advised to sell at a sustainable price within their environment. Just make sure that the price is on your pump. Kindly contact the Secretariat should you have any authority challenging your operations.” He said
