The independent petroleum marketers association of Nigeria and the Nigeria union of petroleum and natural gas workers are at loggerheads over the pump price of petroleum.
As fuel scarcity worsen in most parts of the country in the last fortnight, many fuel stations increased the pump price of petrol higher than the official N165 per liter.
NUPENG issued a 24-hours ultimatum to IPMAN members on Sunday 27th of February,2022 to revert to the official pump price of N165 per liter of petrol, but IPMAN says such directive is not within the former’s purview.
In Bayelss for instance,the price of a liter of petrol is as high as N300 per liter.
According to IPMAN chairman Iyike, the increment is dueto the hike in the ex- depot price of petrol which should be the area where NUPENG should look into rather than directing it’s threat at the marketers.
“We have read in the newspapers the supposed 24-houre notice issued to the marketers regarding vthe increment in the pump price of petrol.
“We want to place it on record that the increment is not due to any fault of oil marketers because we can only sell based on the price at which we buy petrol from the depots.
“There has been an increment in the ex-depot price which has left marketers with no option than to increase the pump price of petrol above the official N165 per litre in recent weeks.
“We believe that addressing the issue of the ex-depot price should be the focus of NUPENG and not attempting to picket petrol stations which might lead to a breakdown of law and order,” he stated.
Iyike urged NUPENG to channel its energy to the activities of some of its members who engage in reckless driving, illegal charges and diversion of petroleum products, instead.
(NAN)
