High petrol pump price in Akwa Ibom: IPMAN accuse Major Marketers of sabotage

0
29

By Esseh Ikora, Uyo

As high cost of petrol pump price cripples economic activities in Akwa Ibom state, the leadership of the state Chapter of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has accused Major Oil Marketers  Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) for the high cost of the product in the state

The state chairman of IPMAN, Mr Ubong Isong who spoke to our correspondent in Uyo the state capital, said the association is doing everything possible to ensure availability of the product in the state but lamented that major oil marketers in the state are frustrating the dealers with high cost procurement.

He said that the major marketers who supply products to independent marketers sell above government approved price of N145 per liter.

National growth LS

In his words, ” the problem is with the major marketer, they own the tank from where the Independent marketers buy from. They sell to us at the depot at N168 per liter, there is  no way our members can sell below N180, considering the logistical expenses.

“They are not doing us any favour. They are forcing the consumers  to pay far above the Federal Government approved rate of N145 per liter.”

When  our correspondent visited some of the filling stations in Uyo municipality, most independent marketers were selling between N180 and N190 per liter.

At GWT Mega station along Atiku Abubakar Avenue , Uyo the product was dispensed at N190 per liter. There was however no  queue.

The station manager who declined to identify himself, merely said,”there are many station in town why is it that it must be this station that you want to come and do your work”

Total station along Abak Road had products but dispensed only to top government officials and corporate organizations at N145 per liter while commercial transport operators and other motorists were turned off.

Mobil station and NNPC Mega station along Ikot Ekpene Road were not operating as the gates were closed to business while the few attendant maintained  sealed lips.

A major marketer Rain Oil filling stations located along Abak road and Atiku Abubakar Avenue had a long queue and were selling at N170 per liter.

Efforts  to speak  with  the station managers failed as the fuel attendants claimed that their managers were not around.

“The manager is not around, he stepped out, I am the supervisor, My duty is to supervise the sales that is all, even if my manager comes back he can’t talk to you. A staff of Rain Oil station Atiku Avenue said.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel and Chairman, Task Force Petroleum monitoring Committee, Obong Essien Esama, who spoke on the fuel situation in the state said the state government has no constitutional powers to determine the pump price of petroleum products.

Esama who spoke through his media assistant, Mr Mfon Sampson, said the product cost N176, at the depot, nothing that it is not possible for the task force to compel independent marketers to sell at the approve N145 per liter.

In his words, “Independent marketers buy from Major Marketers in Calabar and Port Harcourt at the rate of N176 per liter and pay additional N5.00 per liter to Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association. By the time the product gets to the service stations the dealers would have spent over N180 per liter.

“You don’t expect any businessman to sell at the government price of N145. The only thing we here for  is to ensure that we monitor the product from the depots to the service stations in the state,

“We do this to monitor the fuel  from being diverted to other state. I commend the state governor who has made it possible for investors to establish six tank farms in the state which has made the product always available even though expensive.”

 

Follow Us On WhatsApp