– Blames tank farms operators for fuel price hike
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Petroleum Retailers Outlet Association of Nigeria, says the ongoing hike in the pump price of premium motor spirit in Rivers State, was caused by tank farms operators who were still selling products far above government approved price.
To this end, PETROAN has accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, of failing in its responsibility to police the downstream sector, as the regulator.
NMDPRA, a merger of three defunct regulatory agencies; namely PPPRA, PEFMB and DPR, is responsible for the regulation of the midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria which includes technical, operational, and commercial activities.
Speaking, Chief of Staff to the President of PETROAN, Mr Emmanuel Inimgba, accused the Authority of being blind to the activities of tank farms operators, who according to him were selling products above normal price.
Inimgba speaking on a live radio programme monitored by our correspondent in Port Harcourt, explained that there was PMS in Rivers State but tank farms operators were selling above normal price, hence the continuous fuel price hike.
“There is fuel in the state but the tank farms are selling above normal government price. That is why filling stations are selling above normal pump price; you can’t give what you don’t have.
“I have condemned the NMDPRA on this issue because they are the oil police, the regulators, to ensure the fuel price increment is contained. Price of products shouldn’t be way above government approved price at the tank farms, so that we too can sell at government approved pump price to the masses.
“Thankfully PPMC/NNPC has brought in product which they’re still discharging, about 5000MT of PMS. Hopefully loading will begin this week to cushion the effect of what is going on now.
“Filling stations are selling above N165 per litre because of the price they (filling stations) get the products at the tank farms.
“For us, NMDPRA is the problem, they really need to do something about it. This is sabotage, it is not something we can continue with.”
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