The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria, Enugu Depot, Chinedu Anyaso, has blamed the slight increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit on the hike in private depot prices.
Point News247 reports that Anyaso said his members were operating from a disadvantaged position as private depot owners, who sold N165 at their retail outlets increased prices for his members where they sourced products from Warri and Calabar.
Anyaso was reacting to the increase of pump price from N165 to N168 and N175 per litre in most independent marketers’ outlets in the area which comprises Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states.
He said petrol, which was sold for between N162 and N165 had risen by above N10 per litre at independent marketers outlets.
According to him, the price of petrol at the private depots, where its members source products, is not the same for everybody thereby making it impossible for the product to be sold N165 per litre.
He said, “At the moment, we buy N156 per litre, pay N1.00 loading cost and N6.00 transportation, that means our landing cost is N163.
“Our appeal is that NNPC should allow us to buy from them, or enforce private depots to sell at the former price of N147.17, which will enable our people in the South-East to enjoy the normal price of N165.”
Anyaso revealed that some agencies of government were harassing his members and threatening to shut them down.
“The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority are harassing our members for selling above N165 which is right. Instead of harassing our members, they should control prices at private depots where we buy products.
“The problem is at the private depots, they should find out what is going wrong there and correct it because we may have to take extra measures to stop extortion of our members in the name of price compliance if our discussions fail,” Anyaso added.
The Operations Controller of NMDPRA, Stanley Ngene, Enugu Depot, said there was no price increase in Enugu.
Ngene said marketers were selling at N165 per litre and that those selling above would be penalised.