Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2012—49
A file photo of long queue at an Abuja filling station.
Fuel scarcity to bite harder — Investigation Continues from Page 48 recommended pump price of N97. 00 per litre. The Independent Marketers sell between N120 and N140 per litre and always have the product in stock. But that is not the case with the major marketers like Total, Oando, Conoil, AP etc, although they sell at the government approved pump price of N97, most of them claimed not to have PMS. Most often, it is the Mega station, or the stations run by the NNPC, that motorists buy the PMS but there is always long queue as the stations sell the normal pump price of N97. Investigations revealed that some of the major marketers prefer to load the product in the evening resell to the independent marketers above the pump price at night. A source close to some of the major marketers had hinted that they sell their products to the independent marketers at night at N105 per litre. Besides, some of the major marketers who operate in the night make brisk money by selling to the black marketers who sell to motorists at their own price, though based on the buyers bargaining power.
In some cases ten litres of petrol is sold between N1,500 and N2, 500. At Uddy King Filing station, Atu street, Calabar, where as at Sunday they were selling at N120, one of the fuel attendants who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that they always buy PMS at a higher price and most time the product was scarce. The station had sold a litre at N140 within the sallah day; the attendant said that if the government wanted the independent marketers to sell at the approved pump price, government should checkmate the sell of the product from the depot. At MRS in Mayne Avenue, Calabar, the price of the product was boldly written N130 but the attendant claimed that it was the price they sold on Saturday and that on Sunday, they were selling N110 per litre. The manager of NNPC mega station, Emmanuel Baboo said the independent marketers seemed to be extorting money from the public and it appeared government no longer have control over them. According to him, the mega station sell at the recommended N97 because they get supply from government, adding that the reason why
the product was always available in the independent marketers outlets was because they buy the products at higher price from the major marketers and some major marketers were always willing to sell to them because they make more money from it.
Ado Ekiti Petroleum scarcity has now become a daily occurrence in Ado Ekiti and some major towns and villages in different parts of the state in the last few weeks Most filling stations sell between N115 and N120 per litre, even as the two NNPC mega stations located in the state capital did not have the product. Adducing reasons for the scarcity and why the product was being sold above the official price of N97 per litre, Mr Demola Ojo the station manager of AP Filling Station ,Egbewa junction Ado Ekiti, said his station buys from the third parties as most marketers where they used to lift fuel are no more interested in supplying the product because of the high cost involved. He said the cost of lifting fuel from Ejigbo Depot to Ado Ekiti was about N110 per litre, adding that the cost of diesel used to dis-
pense petrol must be taken into consideration before arriving at selling above N97 official price
Ilorin There has been acute shortage of petroleum in ilorin and metropolis for some weeks now. From the International Airport, Ilorin road, when entering the Kwara state capital from ogbomosho axis, to Ganmo when coming into Ilorin from Offa, among others, majority of the fuel stations are always under lock and key.? But on very rare occasions when there is fuel supply in one of the stations, it is always rowdy, even as it is being sold for N110 or N120 per liter, Also on very few occasions when the NNPC mega station along Asa Dam sell petrol to the public there is always long queue because it is the only station that sells at the official price of N97 per litre. As a result of this rigour those who could not withstand it always prefer to buy at higher price Explaining the rationale behind the current experience, an elder of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria(IPMAN)in Kwara State,Alh.Kunle
Sanni said it was as a result of the damaged supply point to the area in Ogun state which has caused drastic reduction in supplies to ilorin and its environment. He added that on rare occasion when dealers are supplied, they buy the product from second, third or even fourth party before selling to the end users hence it cannot be sold at the official pump price.
officials to put these people in check from exploiting the already exploited citizens. The managers of these filling stations are just feeding fat on innocent citizens. "I can’t wait to see these people locked behind bars for sabotaging Nigeria’s economy and exploitation of the people.”
It's between N110 and N120 per litre in Lagos
Most filling station managers who were selling above N97 per litre, were not willing to comment on the situation but one who did not reveal his identity, explained that it was not the fault of the dealers. He said they bought the last product from depot at the rate of N103 per litre because of the limited supply available in the sector, hence, the present pump price of N110. “Nobody goes into any business to incur loss, and we have to recoup our money. The manager of Ghegheto filling station, along Lasu-Isheri Road,Lagos s, Mr. Henry Oheri, said that they now buy the product above the official pump price which has left them with no option than to sell at N110 per litre. Explaining their ordeal, Oheri said: “Before now, we buy the product at N90 per litre from the depot and the marketers add their profit margin which increased the price of the product to N92 while the owners of the filling stations sell at N97. “Last week, our driver slept at the depot for four days, and even at that, he was unable to get the product until the close of work last Wednesday. But on Saturday, we went back contacting a private truck that already had access to one of the depot, who assisted us in transporting the 33, 000 litres of the product down to the station. All these do not include the unofficial negotiation that went on before we were able to get the product. “Also, we had to pay the truck N100, 000 to convey the product. All these will be added to the cost price of the product.”
In Lagos, filling stations have unilaterally hiked pump price which is now between N110 and N120 per litre in most filling stations across the metropolis. A random sampling conducted since last Friday up till yesterday, showed that many filling stations were not opened for business as their gates were securely locked. Motorists and other fuel consumers had to go round for any stations that were opened for business. Most of the filling stations that had the product sold above the N97 official price per litre when Vanguard visited. Even Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mega filling station along Oshodi Apapa Expressway, at Mile 2 area and the NNPC mega stations at Lasu-Isheri Road were shut. Some consumers, including teenagers and adults were seen clutching various sizes of jerry cans and kegs, searching for the product to power their generator as Power Holding Company of Nigeria, had plunged into perpetual darkness.
Consumer’s comment When Vanguard spoke with one of the buyers, Mr. Akpan Johnson, on why they are still patronizing the filling stations despite the unapproved hike, he said: “We have no choice but to buy the product because most filling stations do not have fuel to sell while some of them are hoarding it for no just cause. ”Don’t we have responsible government
Station managers comment
Continues Tomorrow