Marketers under the umbrella of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Saturday revealed why there is fresh scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs.
PETROAN National President, Dr. Harry Billy, said the only source from which his members lift the product is the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), so when there is no fuel, it means the state-owned oil firm has not supplied.
“We as members of PETROAN, we source for product, and the only way we source for product is from NNPCL.
“So whenever NNPCL gives us product, we will deliver,” he said.
Asked whether the product is scarce at the NNPCL depots, he said: “We are not the importers. We are not the ones keeping the daily inventory. So we cannot say whether NNPCL has product or not.”
He added: “We are the extension that makes their efficiency. So if you see scarcity like this that is affecting the place, the way I saw it yesterday (Friday), it is simply the fact that our principals are working out the process to see how they can buy PMS for our members.
“That is exactly how it is.”
NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, did not respond to calls and text enquiries made by The Nation yesterday.
But IPMAN’s National President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, who spoke with The Nation on the phone, said: “Loading is very slow at the depots.”
Asked to state the depot price, he said: “Private depots in Lagos increased their prices from N630 to between N650 and N715 per litre.
Maigandi, however, said the NNPCL has not adjusted its depot price from N570/litre.”
There was tension in the FCT at the weekend as only a pocket of retail outlets, mostly those of NNPCL, were open to customers.
While NNPCL vended the product for N617/litre amid endless queues, some stations like A.A. Rano and NipCo sold for N690 per litre with motorists falling over one another to get the product.
Black marketers, on the other hand, sold the petrol in 10 litre plastic containers for between N9,000 and N11,000 per litre.
Ondo
In Akure, the capital of Ondo State, petrol price hit N750 per litre yesterday. Last week, it was sold for less than N700 per litre.
Many petrol stations visited within Akure metropolis had not fuel to dispense.
Some marketers said they had sold out their products and were expecting new supplies.
The Chairman of IPMAN, Ore Depot, Shina Amoo, said what was being experienced was because ‘everything will soon normalised.’
He said the shortage in supply was general across the country.
Kano
In Kano, majority of the filling stations, particularly those owned by major marketers, were shut down.
However, independent marketers like AMG, M.Sadau Nigeria Limited and others opened yesterday, selling the product at N785 per litre.
Major marketers like AA Rano and Aliko sold at N720 while NNPC filling stations sold at N620 per litre.
They have however shut down their filling stations.
There were, however, no noticeable queues as independent marketers were selling the product.
Niger
In Minna, Niger State capital, filling stations like NNPC, Total, Mobil, Rano, Matrix and Shafa did not open while other marketers like First Jaaz, El-shabab and Agwara oil sold fuel between N750 to N785 yesterday.
There were queues in the filling stations that were opened for service.
Imo
Despite that there was no indication of fuel scarcity in Imo State and its capital city Owerri, motorists are groaning under the weight of high petrol prices.
Yesterday, fuel was sold at between N750 and N780 per litre at some filling stations, causing frustration among motorists.
Our reporter observed that there was no sign of panic buying of petroleum products by motorists and residents in the state, despite the high prices.
“It is becoming unbearable,” said Chukwuemeka, a commercial bus driver plying the Owerri-Aba route.
“We buy fuel at such an exorbitant price and still have to struggle to make ends meet. The government needs to do something urgent to regulate these prices,” he said.
Another motorist, who identified himself as Obinna, echoed Chukwuemeka’s sentiments. “I bought fuel at N780 per litre yesterday (Friday) and it’s really affecting my business.
“I ply the Owerri-Port Harcourt route and I have to increase my fares to survive.
“It’s not fair on my passengers, but what can I do?”
The high cost of fuel has led to a significant increase in transport fares across the state.
A trip from Owerri to Aba, which previously cost N1,500, now costs N2,000.
Similarly, a journey from Owerri to Port Harcourt, which previously cost N2,500, now costs N3,000.
Motorists are calling on the government to intervene and regulate the prices of fuel to alleviate their suffering.
“We can’t continue like this,” said another driver Sunday Amaishi. “The government needs to do something to help us.”
The Vice Chairman, Imo Petroleum Marketers, Chimodo Martin, said the cause of the increase is what marketers have been buying at the depot.
“We buy at N730 and N740. So, it is not our fault. It is what we have been buying,” he said.
Abia
Independent petroleum marketers operating filling stations in Abia State are dispensing petrol to their customers between ₦750 and ₦780 per litre.
Our correspondent, who monitored the sale of PMS by petrol dealers in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state and Umuahia, the state capital, reports that there were no queues at filling stations visited.
Some of the petrol station owners refused to grant interview to our reporter, preferring to speak anonymously.
They said they dispense their products according to the source and the quality.
Transport companies have slightly increased their fares in line with their policies.
Asaba
The supply of petroleum products to filling stations in Asaba, Delta State capital, has been hitch-free over the past week as several petrol stations are open for business.
Investigation by revealed that while petrol stations were opened, pump price hovered between N720 and N750 per litre in Asaba and its environs.
There was no panic buying or queues at petrol stations as motorists drove in and out without being subjected to queuing.
A commercial bus driver, who identified himself simply as Okorie said there was no scarcity of fuel at petrol stations.
According to him, prices of petroleum products had been stable and he had not experienced any undue delays at filling stations.
Enugu
Fuel pump price yesterday maintained its cost at N750 per liter at filling stations owned by independent marketers in Enugu State.
The price has remained so since the first week of June when it dropped from N880 per litre to its current price of N750.
However, at the various NNPC filling stations in Enugu State, the product was sold for N600 per litre, bringing about long queues in the areas where such stations are located.
Our correspondent, who monitored development in Enugu, also observed that a few other major marketers such as Total Energies, Mobil, Enyo and Oando sold between N680 and N700 per litre.
Anambra
Anambra State has no issue with fuel as being speculated. The only problem in the state is that the price of the product is still high, said residents.
A litre of fuel is as high as N780 in some filling stations while in some others, it goes between N750 and N760.
There are some unresolved issues between the governor of the state, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN)
Though the issues are still lingering, the reason the body threatened to shut down but did not actualise.
Although the Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, could not be reached, one of the top members told The Nation that the body was trying to resolve with the government.
