Expect to pay AD 195 per liter of gasoline – marketers tell Nigerians that
Nigerians will pay up to N195 per liter of gasoline, IPMAN has warned the Association of Independent Oil Marketers of Nigeria.
This was due to IPMAN complaining about what they described as “inconsistencies” by the federal government, Nigeria’s National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiary, Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), regarding deregulation policies.
The NNPC ruled out an immediate price hike last week before a scheduled meeting between the federal government and labor unions later this month.
But IPMAN members said gasoline could soon be sold between N190 and N195.
They said that while the NNPC makes the product available, independent marketers cannot access the product from the NNPC’s warehouses, forcing them to rely on the independent warehouse owners for supplies.
Speaking to reporters after meeting in Abuja over the weekend, Danasabe Kakanda, managing director of Kankada Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, accused the government of giving private depositors an advantage over independent sellers.
He explained that independent marketers have always been at the mercy of private depot owners from whom they rely on supply, even though they also own gas stations and compete with marketers.
He said, “Given the inconsistency of the government, Nigerians should expect fuel prices to be between 190 and 195.”
Also in his speech, Austin Erhabor, CEO of Foste Nigeria Limited, called on the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Head Timipre Silva, through the NNPC, to clarify to the Nigerians whether they were deregulating the oil supply chain or not.
“It’s time for them to separate politics from economics. Our business is dying. How can you talk about deregulation and do you give an official price for the pump? – he asked.
Erkhabor freed oil marketers from continuing supply chain uncertainty by saying the sector was plagued by obscure government policies.
“These owners of private depots were not supposed to own gas stations. They had to be somewhere between NNPCs and independent marketers. This is true of whoever I buy from, my competitor, I buy from you, you come and build a station next to me, and you provide me, how can I sell? Because if you want me to die on business, all you have to do is ensure the level that you sell to me in your stores, ”he added.
The head of Foste Nigeria Limited has accused the owners of private warehouses of systematically banning independent sellers by stockpiling petroleum products so that only their gas stations are loaded in the first place.
“As we speak, most of us have paid money for these deposits without receiving the product. And before your eyes, they are loading their cars. These private contributions are known, ”he said.
For her part, former IPMAN National Advertising Secretary Dr. Emma Ihedigbo also said that oil sellers are no longer happy with what government agencies are doing with the oil supply chain.
“In fact, we say we are shouting that PPMC wants to strangle IPMAN members and all the business people who deal with petroleum products, and we don’t like that anymore. And if nothing is done, we will go out and tell the world what is happening, ”he said.
