By Ikemefuna Asika, Awka
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has advised members of the public to disregard the alarm and speculations about increase in pump price of Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as fuel.
Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot, Mr Chinedu Anyaso made the remark during an interview with our correspondent in Awka.
Anyaso said the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited , NNPCL, being the sole importer of the product has not in anyway informed marketers of any intending increase in price hence the need for the people to disregard the speculations in social media.
According to him, the panic may have arisen from a calculation of downward trend of naira in exchange with the dollar.
He reassured the people that there was no plan by marketers to jack up the cost of petrol since there was no announcement from the sole importer of the product.
The IPMAN, Enugu Depot Chairman said contrary to media reports, the Port Harcourt refinery has yet to come on stream.
He explained that the information made available to IPMAN indicated that the mechanical aspect of the the 60,000 barrel capacity PH refinery has been done while work is still in progress on other aspects.
“That does not mean it has come on stream. We are still anticipating that it will start but right now it has not started.”
On the Dangote refinery, Anyaso said the report was that the company had started receiving crude oil products from the NNPCL but was also yet to start operations.
“If there is any refined product, we will know because we are the middlemen that buy and sell to end users. I believe strongly that Dangote refinery with its capacity of 650, 000 barrels per day will help to bring down the price of fuel in the country”
He called on the Federal Government to consider issuing licences to players in the industry as such move will make it competitive and force down the price nationwide.
“There is no need for panic buying as there is enough product being made available to marketers at different depots by the NNPCL. Let Nigerians ignore the speculations and avoid panic buying” Anyaso concluded.
