IPMAN TELLS DPR,NNPC TO SANCTION DEPOTS SELLING PETROL ABOVE APPROVED RATES

LAGOS, Nigeria – The Independent Petroleum Markers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western zone today urged the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and NNPC to sanction private depots selling petrol above ex-depot price of N 133.28k.

Alhaji Debo Ahmed, the western zone chairman of IPMAN made the appeal in an interactive session with the energy correspondents in Lagos.

Ahmed said that the shutdown of private depots selling petrol above government approved price became necessary against the back drop of the association’s threatening to withdraw its services across Lagos State and part of Ogun State as from December 11.

He alleged that most private depots owned by Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) in Apapa were selling petrol between N141 to N143 per litter as against Ex-depot price N 133.28k

According to him, we urged DPR, NNPC and all other regulatory agencies saddled with monitoring of depot petroleum pricing to live to its responsibility by shutting down any private depot selling products above government approved prices.

“ The increase in price of petrol by depots is killing our members because most marketers will be forced to shut down their stations if the situation continues. The DPR and NNPC seems to be helpless in this situation where the private depots sales petrol above.

“Many of IPMAN members cannot buy the petrol from NNPC depots because the product was not sufficient and not all NNPC depots that are working. Ore, Ilorin are not working, while Lagos and Ibadan are doing partial loading,’’ he said.

Debo said that due to insufficient of petrol at NNPC depots, adding that most marketers are forced to buy product from private depot. He alleged that the private deports are not invoicing marketers directly, adding that they give way bill which the prices are not indicated, to cover up there atrocity.

The IPMAN boss, however urged all concern authorities to urgently look into the issues to avert its members close down their over 1,200 filling stations, which might lead to fuel crisis during the yuletide festivities.

However, the Executive Secretary of DAPPMA, Mr Olufemi Adewole denied the allegation of selling petrol above Ex-depot price by its members.

According to Adewole, Our members are selling petrol at government approved price, but we should also note that not all depot owners that are DAPPMA’s member. If other non-DAPPMA members sell above ex-depot price, we don’t have right over them.

“ IPNAN cannot just make blanket accusation of DAPPMA selling above ex-depot price. There is no truth in what they are saying to the best of my knowledge; we are selling at government approved price, even though we are losing money.

“The challenge we are even facing now is that banks are not given us money to buy product because government owing us and they are yet to pay. But few of our members are bringing in product and buying from NNPC because they are the sole importer,’’ he said.

One of the depot owners who spoke to NAN correspondent on account of anonymity said that the increase in ex-depot price was caused by lack of petrol. The depot owner said that NNPC which remain the sole importer of the product also contributed to the increase, adding that the product imported was not enough.

He said that burnt of the Bulk Oil Plant (BOP) jetty in Apapa also contributed major challenges, adding that majority of the major oil marketers could not load product from the jetty.

According to him, closed down of the Bulk Oil Plant (BOP) was responsible to the scarcity because no vessel discharge at the jetty in the last three months.

“The jetty were the major oil marketer received product currently no major oil marketer receive product now. Most of the major oil marketer has to load from other jetty,’’ the depot owner said. Investigation revealed that all depots in Apapa sells petrol above ex-depot price of N133.28k.

De- Jones, N139, Fatgbems, N140, Folawiyo, N138.50, Obat, N141, Sahara, N140, Stallonire, N141, Swift, N141, Chipet, N141.50 and NIPCO, N138.

It will recalls that on Monday the IPMAN, Lagos State chapter in a statement jointly signed by its state chairman, Alhaji Alanamu Balogun, the Vice chairman, Pastor Gbenga Ilupeju and the secretary, Prince Kunle Oyenuga threatened to withdraw its services across Lagos State and part of Ogun State as from December 11. The association said it was set for a showdown with NNPC over irregular fuel supply at Ejigbo satellite depot.

The IPMAN said it took the painful decision because its members had been running their fuel stations at a loss since the past eight months due to NNPC default in the bulk purchase agreement it signed with IPMAN to sell fuel to its members at a cost of N133.28k per litre.