By Mike Adeyemi
The Kwara State chapter of Independent Petroleum Marketer’s Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has condemned in totality the hike in pump price of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) by the Federal Government.
The Zonal Public Relation Officer of the association, Sanusi Adeoye, in his reaction to the development during a chat with our reporter on Friday, said it is insensitive of the Nigerian government to inflict further hardship on the citizenry.
Recall that the PPMC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Wednesday announced a new ex-depot price of N151.56k for PMS against the N138.62k announced in August.
The development had led to an increment in the pump price of the product to between N160 and N163 in filling stations across the state.
According to him, ” It is unfortunate that this is coming at a time when most of our citizens are struggling with difficulties created within the context of the post COVID-19 economy.
“The Federal Government’s decision on this issue is wicked. We are not going to be silent about it. We want to study the situation in the interim so that we won’t take a wrong action.
“The last time a similar increment happened, we issued a warning strike and the agency of the government called us and pleaded that we should give them time to revert the decisions. Up till now, nothing was done.
“We, the marketers have not been carried along in the price regulation decision and we are at the receiving end. Since time in memorial now, our margin has remained stagnant and our purchasing capital has been in the increase,” he lamented.
Adeoye added that the new pump price is would take a toll on both the marketers and consumers.
“The Federal Government want to pitch the marketers against the consumers. We reject the new pump price outrightly and we will makes our position known.
“As things stand now, everybody is a loser. The amount we used to buy PMS has doubled and the profit is no more.
“We were not given a bracket. They asked us to be buying at N147 and with that amount we can be selling at N200 had it been we are not empathising with the general public.
“Had it been the Federal Government puts in place necessary things like fixing our refineries, we won’t find ourselves in this precarious situations. If the refineries are working, we don’t need to import PMS and with that the prices will be low, “Adeoye further said.
