Residents of the north complain as fuel prices reach N685/litre

With some filling stations in the North selling as much as N685/litre, filling stations nowadays, especially those run by independent marketers, offer Premium Motor Spirit, often known as fuel, at rates higher than the bands authorised by the federal government.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in Abuja and many Northern states increased the pump price of gasoline in July from N537 to N550 per litre to N617 per litre.

Additionally, the cost of PMS was raised from N488 to N500 per litre in Lagos and other South-West states to roughly N580 per litre. The cost increased from N515 per litre to almost N600 per litre in the South-South.

Because the NNPCL, a national oil business, was also the main importer of petrol, oil marketers stated at the time that any change in pricing by NNPCL stations was a sign of a raise in the pump price of PMS as authorised by the Federal Government.

Petroleum is now only imported into Nigeria by the NNPCL. Due to their inability to get the cash needed for gasoline imports, other marketers stopped importing the product.

Read Also:Marketers expect FG to spend N1.68 trillion in fuel subsidies, at N900 per litre

“It is thought that the government has approved the petrol price at NNPCL stations. Therefore, as soon as the NNPCL increases its pricing, every other marketer adjusts his as well, according to Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abuja-Suleja.

In his inaugural speech on May 29, President Bola Tinubu declared the end of gasoline subsidies, which caused the price of the fuel to rise from N198 per litre to above N500 per litre on May 30, 2023.

But it was discovered that dealers of the commodity were selling petrol for as much as N685/litre, especially in several states in the North, including Sokoto and Taraba, as opposed to dispensing it about N580/litre and N617/litre bands in the South and North, respectively.

Independent dealers in Abuja increased their pump rates to as much as N630 per litre, while black marketers who sold the product in jerrycans did so for roughly N850 per litre.

It was discovered that fuel was being dispensed at the Aso Energy Resources Station in Kubwa Phase 2 for N630/litre rather than the authorised rate of N617/litre.

PMS was sold for N625 per litre at the A.A. Rano filling station in the Jabi Garage in Abuja. Meanwhile, the product was sold at the standard pump price of N617 per litre at NNPCL filling stations in Wuse Zone 6 and Garki Area 10.

Closed stations in Lagos and Ekiti

Due to long lines at numerous stores throughout the state, most gas stations in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, no longer have gasoline available.

While the product was supplied at NNPCL stations for the approved price of N580 per litre, independent traders, like Matrix on Poly Road in Ado Ekiti, dispensed petrol for N610 per litre.

Findings revealed that rates had since risen to between N600 and N620/litre in retail outlets owned by independent marketers, leading to the closure of multiple filling stations, including those belonging to the NNPCL, in Lagos on Sunday.

It was noted that certain NNPCL and other independent marketer-owned retail locations closed their doors to consumers on Sunday because they were out of stock.

As of Saturday and Sunday, NNPCL stations at Gate, Jakande Estate Oshodi/Isolo, and along 2nd Rainbow had no product and were not open to the public.

The PUNCH observed that while stations affiliated with the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria continued to sell at the NNPCL retail price of N585 per litre, certain IPMAN stations had increased their prices to between N600 and N620 per litre.

It was noted that AP supplied petrol for N593/litre, Jezco offered its products for N620/litre, while Fatgbems stations hiked their prices to N600/litre.

Products were offered for N595 per litre at NorthWest stations and at the same price at Eterna Plc.

Sokoto’s lpc price is N685

The majority of filling stations in the Sokoto metropolis still do not have petrol easily available, and it was also noted that the pricing of the good at filling stations run by independent merchants ranged from N680 to N685 per litre.

One of our correspondents noted that other significant marketers distributed PMS at prices between N630 and N640 per litre, whilst stations run by the NNPCL supplied the product for between N615 and N620 per litre.

However, independent sellers in Sokoto who had been distributing the goods continuously ever since the recent shortage began had kept the price of the good at N680 and N685 per litre.

N650 per litre in Delta

Fuel is sold at filling stations in Delta State, particularly in Asaba and its surroundings, for between N615 and N650 a litre.

A check showed that some gas stations, including those run by big marketers like Rain Oil, Matrix, and Northwest, among others, were charging N615 per litre while others were charging N620 to N650.

Under the condition of anonymity, some operators claimed they were compelled to rapidly comply when they received orders from their headquarters to increase the price of petrol at the pump.

“Our head office, not ourselves, is changing the price at the pump. As recently as Friday, we were selling items for N615 after receiving a signal to change the price, according to one of the big marketers.

It was noted that the price of petrol in Makurdi, Benue State, ranged from N630 to N635 per litre.

When one of our reporters visited a few petrol stations in the nation’s capital, he noticed that the price of PMS had increased from N620 per litre to the present amount.

Operators in the state declined to comment on the cause of the ongoing price increase, leading to the assumption that the product is more expensive outside of the state’s capital city.

However, Roseline, a fuel attendant at Enyo Filling Station on Modern Market Road in Makurdi, claimed they were requested to be selling the goods at the price because they were unable to obtain it easily.

You would have noticed that we didn’t open for business last week if you had visited us, as we didn’t have the merchandise until last Friday.

According to our supervisor, the product’s landing cost in Makurdi has increased, so we must modify the metre from N615 per litre to N630.

6.5 N per litre in Bayelsa

The price of petrol in Bayelsa State ranges between N620 to N650 per litre. On Sunday, a few petrol stations in Yenagoa and the surrounding area were offering the product for N620, N630, N640, and N650 per litre.

A litre of petrol was supplied by Rainoil along the Mbiama-Yenagoa Road and the Isaac Boro Motorway for N650 last week, but the price was cut to N630 on Sunday.

On the same motorway, Perez Petroleum was charging N650 for a litre of petrol, while Ereboter Oil was charging N640.

Only the NNPCL mega filling station on the Sani Abacha Motorway and other sales locations were found to be charging N595 per litre.

Michael Chibuike, a commercial tricycle rider, claimed he was forced to pay the varying pump fees offered throughout the state even though he was disappointed by the change.

“I am forced to purchase fuel at the exorbitant prices that the filling stations are charging. But I’m not happy, really. He said, “I don’t know where our country is going.

On Sunday, many petrol stations in Katsina State sealed their gates against consumers because the few that did open for business were charging N640 per litre for their products.

There was a significant increase in the number of stations’ patrons. Only the Matrix filling station, which is located at the Kofar Kaoran roundabout, was providing PMS to customers, according to a drive around the state capital of Katsina. At N640 per litre, it was for sale.

A station employee who wished to remain anonymous added, “We were instructed to be selling at N640/litre and we have been doing it since Wednesday evening.”

On Sunday, it was also noted that, depending on the filling station, PMS in Gombe State was sold for between N630 and N700 per litre.

Retail establishments in the hinterlands charged between N700 and N1000 per litre for their products.

Some drivers who spoke with one of our reporters blamed the recent elimination of fuel subsidies for the price increase.

In separate interviews, Danladi Adamu and Haruna Gimba lamented the shifting cost of fuel, adding that it had a direct bearing on the expense of life.

“Fuel that used to cost N617 now costs N630; prices vary depending on where you buy it, but most locations charge more than that.

“Stations might cost as much as N700 to N1000 in remote regions. Things are now pricey, which is disappointing,” said Gimba.

IPMAN clarifies

Chief Chinedu Ukadike, IPMAN’s Public Relations Officer, indicated that the excessive price of diesel was to blame for the high price of petrol at independent retail shops.

“We spend more than N2 million transporting PMS from the south to the north of Nigeria. Who is responsible for that expense? Diesel is currently more expensive per litre than N1,000 and is essential for transporting gasoline, the speaker said.

Ukadike acknowledged that, particularly at stations run by independent dealers, the price of fuel in the state exceeded the allowed price bands, but he emphasised that the main problem was the high cost of diesel.

He said that because these companies possessed tank farms and depots from which they lifted their own products, the pricing at the NNPCL retail stations and those of large marketers were lower.

The downstream oil industry’s regulator, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, was unable to explain the occurrence at the time.

The NMDPRA spokesperson, Kimchi Apollo, responded that he would need confirmation from the operations department of the organisation and would then get back to the question of whether independent dealers were selling petrol above the authorised bands.

But he remained silent until Sunday night, when this report was submitted.

In Enugu State, independent marketers owned the petrol stations that sold the PMS for between N625 and N630 per litre.

The price of petrol is still N620 a litre at major retailers like Total, North West, Pinnacle Oil and NNPCL stations.

According to Celestine Omeje, a commuter driver, marketers, in particular independent marketers, have been raising pump prices since last week.

In Niger State, gas stations offered petrol for between N619 and N625.

In Kano, the product is offered for between N640 and N660 per litre.

Even though the Federal Government has not made any announcements on it, some drivers who talked to The PUNCH accused the marketers for raising the price of the good.