Petrol dealers and managers of filling stations are involved in a lot of irregularities and shaddy deals to maximize profits and lined up their pockets illegally, not minding the financial heartaches their cruel activities imposed on consumers.
The underhanded deals of these petrol dealers was discovered by the Monitoring Team set up by Ogun State to monitor Sales of Fuel across the state and measures had been meted out to some of those culpable to effect immediate reversal.
The state has also vowed to sanction any dealer or filling station of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) who are in the habit of manipulating pump price which subjects consumers to hardship.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Dairo Olugbenga, gave the warning during the monitoring exercise carried out by the team comprising of the state ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Directorate of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Ogun State Park, to various filling stations across the state.
Engr. Dairo stated that the monitoring exercise is aimed at ensuring that citizens were not overburdened with high transportation fare and it had exposed irregularities engaged in by some of these petrol stations.
The Commissioner said, ‘’the team detected inaccuracies in some filling stations at Ilisan, Iperu, Ososa, Ijebu-Ode, and some parts of Abeokuta metropolis, and they were given 24 hours ultimatum to make necessary adjustments and corrections’’.
Contributing, his counterpart in Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, said the state government would not condone any act of manipulation in fuel pumps at the expense of the people, emphasising the application of standard gauge and measurements in the sales of fuel.
On his part, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Adewuyi Adesoji, who lauded the present administration for its commitment to welfare of the citizens, encouraged the monitoring team to be proactive in the course of their duties, in order to deliver on the mandate of the state government.
Meanwhile, it is heartening to consumers to note that the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has secured an agreement with Dangote Petroleum Refinery to lift products directly and this, according to the association, will ensure the availability of petroleum to Nigerians at a cheaper rate.
IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this at a press briefing held recently in Abuja, following a meeting of the National Working Committee of the association.
He explained that the Dangote refinery had obliged IPMAN to lift PMS, AGO and DPK directly for onward supply to IPMAN depots and retail outlets. This new arrangement with the Dangote refinery would ensure a steady and ceaseless supply of PMS products all over Nigeria at an affordable rate.
He said, “Following our recent meeting with Alhaji Aliko Dangote and members of his top management staff in Lagos, we are happy to state the following; Dangote Refinery has obliged IPMAN to lift PMS, AGO and DPK directly for onward supply to IPMAN depots and retail outlets. That this new arrangement with the Dangote refinery will ensure a steady and ceaseless supply of PMS products all over Nigeria, at an affordable rate for Nigerians also.”
On October 29, the founder of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, said the refinery held over 500 million litres of petrol, but added that oil marketers were not buying his product.
In a counter-response, IPMAN said its members had been unable to load petrol from the Dangote refinery for days. Garima said the association paid N40bn to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, but still cannot source the product – but the refinery said it has not received any payment from the IPMAN for refined petroleum products.
Speaking further at the briefing, Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing backward integration benefits and positive impacts on Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange market.
Regarding pricing, Garima expressed confidence that negotiations with Dangote would yield lower rates.
“All IPMAN members should fully support the Dangote refinery, as it’s the ideal thing to do considering the monumental benefits of backward integration and the medium to long-term impact it will have on the Foreign Exchange markets in Nigeria.
“IPMAN members nationwide should rely on the Dangote refinery and Nigerian rfineries for their white products, as this will translate into ensuring more job opportunities in Nigeria, as well as signify total support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
Commenting, an Energy expert Kelvin Emmanuel, said the new agreement would eliminate financing and margin costs incurred by the NNPCL.
He said, “What is cheery about this news is that NNPC’s letter of credit as financing cost ($28 per metric tonne) that is passed to IPMAN — controlling 30,000 retail stations and their margin ($26.48 per metric tonne) will be removed.”
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