Petroleum dealers in Ondo and Ekiti States Monday accused Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) of conniving to defraud members of the public in dispensing of fuel to filling stations in the states.
The marketers, who addressed a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, alerted members of the public of impending scarcity of petroleum as a result of the activities of the two federal agencies.
The President of the Petroleum Filling Station Dealers and Owners in the two states, Prince Jimi Adedapo said the cost of bringing petroleum to both Ondo and Ekiti states did not permit the selling of the product at the government approved price of N87.00 per litre.
According to him, the true cost of bringing the petrol from Lagos to the two states was between N104.00 and N108 per litre while the cost from Ogara/Warri in Delta state was between N105.00 and N108.00 per litre.
Despite the fact that the DPR knew the amount the landing cost of the product still went ahead to seal many filling stations in both states for selling above Federal government approved price of N87.00 per litre.
Adedapo said that none of the NNPC Depots in the state was selling petroleum despite the fact that it is the only Corporation importing fuel in the past three months saying the government agency preferred to sell to independent marketers instead of disbursing the product directly to the end users.
His words: “Even when NNPC gives out fuel, the cost to us at our stations are above N89.00 per litre. One wonders how as businessmen with responsibilities can we sell below cost price. The ordinary law of supply and demand will not allow it.
“Despite our plights as highlighted, the regulatory authorities, the DPR rather than facing the reality of the situation have resulted to sealing off all our stations in Ondo and Ekiti states and vowed never to re-open them until we comply with the directives of selling at the approved pump price of N87.00 per litre.
“Rather than running our stations at a loss, since most of us are on loans from financial institutions we have resolved not to procure the products until it is readily available at NNPC depots.
“We are demanding that government should deregulate the oil sector to enable us to sell at appropriate prices. We are sorry for whatever inconveniences these actions might cost the public who may be at the receiving end.”
Adedapo said there had not been activities in the NNPC depot in Ore, despite the efforts of the government, the development which has made the situation difficult in the two neighbouring states.
He said most of the filling stations in both Ondo and Ekiti states are under lock and key and the situation may get worse in few days as the DPR in the state has made the situation worse. He added that most of the stations pretending to sell at N87.00 per litre had tampered with their meters.
The marketers, who addressed a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, alerted members of the public of impending scarcity of petroleum as a result of the activities of the two federal agencies.
The President of the Petroleum Filling Station Dealers and Owners in the two states, Prince Jimi Adedapo said the cost of bringing petroleum to both Ondo and Ekiti states did not permit the selling of the product at the government approved price of N87.00 per litre.
According to him, the true cost of bringing the petrol from Lagos to the two states was between N104.00 and N108 per litre while the cost from Ogara/Warri in Delta state was between N105.00 and N108.00 per litre.
Despite the fact that the DPR knew the amount the landing cost of the product still went ahead to seal many filling stations in both states for selling above Federal government approved price of N87.00 per litre.
Adedapo said that none of the NNPC Depots in the state was selling petroleum despite the fact that it is the only Corporation importing fuel in the past three months saying the government agency preferred to sell to independent marketers instead of disbursing the product directly to the end users.
His words: “Even when NNPC gives out fuel, the cost to us at our stations are above N89.00 per litre. One wonders how as businessmen with responsibilities can we sell below cost price. The ordinary law of supply and demand will not allow it.
“Despite our plights as highlighted, the regulatory authorities, the DPR rather than facing the reality of the situation have resulted to sealing off all our stations in Ondo and Ekiti states and vowed never to re-open them until we comply with the directives of selling at the approved pump price of N87.00 per litre.
“Rather than running our stations at a loss, since most of us are on loans from financial institutions we have resolved not to procure the products until it is readily available at NNPC depots.
“We are demanding that government should deregulate the oil sector to enable us to sell at appropriate prices. We are sorry for whatever inconveniences these actions might cost the public who may be at the receiving end.”
Adedapo said there had not been activities in the NNPC depot in Ore, despite the efforts of the government, the development which has made the situation difficult in the two neighbouring states.
He said most of the filling stations in both Ondo and Ekiti states are under lock and key and the situation may get worse in few days as the DPR in the state has made the situation worse. He added that most of the stations pretending to sell at N87.00 per litre had tampered with their meters.
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