*Situation worsens with prices at roof tops
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) that is supposed to protect consumers of premium motor spirit (PMS) commonly called petrol from greedy marketers who take advantage of the current scarcity to sell the product at outrageous prices, has continued to look away leaving consumers to their fate.
When the Authority was operating as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), when supply situations are like this, it monitors and ensures that retail outlets that hoard fuel are penalized and forced to sell, likewise retail outlets that sell above regulated prices are penalized.
But it seems the management of NMDPRA doesn’t even know its responsibilities. The management is a toothless bulldog that doesn’t even bark.
In Lagos, filling stations especially those owned by independent marketers beside selling at between N250 and N300 per litre collect extra N500 from those buying with 30-litre kegs and flagrantly sell to hawkers who sell at premiums to motorists in hurry. Such independents have turned their retail outlets to market places subjecting them to grave risks as those buying fuel freely make and receive calls with their cell phones unchecked.
NMDPRA should wake up to its responsibilities or let Nigerians know if the federal government has fully deregulated the price of petrol through the backyard and save the consumers untold hardship.
Meanwhile, the Group Executive Director, Downstream, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Adeyemi Adetunji, said the company is making efforts to end the lingering supply crisis, adding that about 2 billion litres of petrol sufficient to last for 30 days have been put in place in its depots.
He said: “The NNPCL assures Nigerians of fuel sufficiency of over 2 billion litres availability. The company has enough stock in its depots to last for at least one month,”
The NNPC attributed the long queues at filling stations across the country in recent times to the ongoing road infrastructure development project around Apapa, which is being complicated by the access road and challenges in parts of Lagos depots.
Adetunji said Abuja was equally impacted by the challenges experienced in Lagos, although he promised massive product load out including 24 hours operations in selected depots and extended hours of operations at strategic stations to ensure products supply sufficiency nationwide.
He said vessels have been programmed and massive load out from depots to various states are closely monitored.
NNPC Retail and other key per marketers have intensified dedicated loading into Abuja to restore normalcy in fuel supply as soon as possible.
He reassured consumers that NNPC was prepared to significantly increase products loading from depots to different parts of the country.
Also, NMDPRA in a statement on Wednesday assured there were no plans to hike the price of petrol.
Petroleum products marketers have over time complained that the current retail price approved by the government was no longer adequate to guarantee adequate returns.
The marketers who blamed the perennial scarcity of petrol in the country have always demanded for an upward review of the price from N167.50 per litre to about N230 per litre.
But, the NMDPRA’s statement allayed fears on speculations concerning the fuel price and availability of petrol.
The statement said: “The Authority wishes to inform the general public that the Federal Government has no intention of increasing the price of PMS during this period.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has imported PMS with current stock levels sufficient for 34 days.
“Consequently, products Marketers and the general public are advised to avoid panic buying, diversion of products, and hoarding,” it said.
The Authority said in keeping with its responsibilities as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Authority assures the public that it would continue to monitor the supply and distribution of all petroleum products nationwide, especially during this holiday season.
