By Sulyman Pakoyi  & Olayinka Awe

|

There seems to be no respite in sight regarding possible reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) which is the sole off-taker of petrol  started lifting the product from Dangote Refinery on Sunday at N898/litre.

The NNPC spokesman, Olufemi  Soneye, who confirmed the lifting of petrol from the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery on Sunday also denied claims that the national oil company purchased petrol at N760 per litre.

NNPCL had increased the pump price forcing independent marketers to sell the product between N1,200 and N1,400 per litre, thereby increasing the current hardship in the country.

In Akure, the Ondo State capital, NNPCL retail stations which sell the product at N865 per litre (the cheapest) do not have the product, while major marketers are selling between N920 and N930 per litre, with long queues.

Hopes for cheaper price, however, rose that by the time the Dangote Refinery begins to release the product into the market, the skyrocketed price will come down.

Reverse seems to  the case as the expectations of Nigerians seem to have been dashed as no respite in sight yet going by the current price the NNPCL is planning to sell the product to outlets.

Marketers have demanded direct access to the PMS from the Dangote refinery, criticising the firm grip of the NNPCL on the market.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said the market should be open for all in line with the willing-buyer and willing-seller commitment earlier made by the NNPCL.

Some motorists and commuters in Akure, including Mr Mose Oladele and Sunday Omoniyi, expressed disappointment that despite the lifting of petrol from Dangote Refinery, the product will be bought at high price.

They argued that the development would cause more hardship to the masses if not urgently looked into by the appropriate authorities.