RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTH EAST LAMENT THE HIGH COST AND LACK OF PETROL

Fuel Pump

South-East States are experiencing another wave of fuel shortages. Despite the Federal Government's promises that there was adequate gasoline in store for the public, this has happened.

In most States in the zone, the cost of the product is currently between N200 and N230.

The federal government claimed that it did not raise the pump price of gasoline above the prescribed cost of N165/litre in response to the outbursts that led to the increase in the price of petrol.

The government also revealed that oil marketers were responsible for the increase in the price of the good, which is currently between N175 and N230 a litre depending on where it is purchased.

However, the marketers had maintained that the N165/litre allowed price was not viable and contributed to the statewide shortage of petrol in several places.

They eventually increased the price of fuel at the pump and kept it there for a number of weeks without facing any opposition from the government.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) asked independent oil marketers to switch back to the official depots' fuel price or risk unfavorable consequences in response to the federal government's clarification of the alleged incremental cost on petroleum products across the nation.

Prince William Akporeha, the National President of NUPENG, and Afolabi Olawale, the Secretary General, said in a press statement sent to journalists that dishonest merchants are selling PMS (Petrol) from the depots at prices far higher than the legal rate. If the impacted merchants persisted in their illegal behavior intended to make the plight of Nigerians worse, they were threatened with being named and shamed.

It is no longer news that premium motor spirit, often known as petrol, is sold at N200 a litre in the Eastern portion of Nigeria, including Port Harcourt, Enugu, Owerri, Awka, Uyo, Cross River, Aba, Yenagoa, Makurdi, and Lokoja, according to IPMAN's Southeast chapter, which responded to the claim.

"The real cause of hike in price is the incessant increment in price of premium spirit from private depot owners. A litre of fuel is being sold to us at the rate of N185 per litre. When you add transport and logistics including the exploitation by NUPENG in the name of union fee which is over One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira, N120,000, per truck, the price will be more than N200 per litre.

"Even at N200 per litre, considering the high cost of diesel to power the station and the exploitation from private tank depot owners and NUPENG, our business cannot thrive. Our various associations have met, and we have resolved to withdraw our services.

"Hence, we cannot cope with the harsh environment of doing business, caused by private depot owners and NUPENG. We are calling on the federal government to revive our various NNPC depots within the Eastern zone to enable us to get premium motor spirit at a regulated price. We are also calling on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the management of NNPC to please appeal to the leadership of NUPENG to lessen our burden by reducing the loading fee."

Reporters in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, Enugu, and other States in the zone have observed that the commodity is currently being sold over the price set by the government.

A cross-section of locals claimed that the project had devastated them and had a detrimental impact on other products and services, leaving them to question how they would spend Christmas and the New Year.

"The price of every commodity has gone high; how would average Nigerians afford N200 per litre of fuel? So, governments at all levels must come up with good economic blueprints for the country to strengthen the economy for the good of the populace," a concerned resident said.