21 July 2012, Sweetcrude, AWKA – FUEL marketers in Awka, the Anambra State capital, have hiked the pump price of fuel from N97 per litre as approved by the Federal Government to N105 per litre, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Some of the marketers, interviewed in Awka on Saturday, attributed the increase in pump price to their inability to get the product at the depots in large quantity.
Chairman of the Petroleum Dealers Association, PEDAN, in Anambra, Mr. Osita Ofodile confirmed the price increase.
He blamed the situation on the inability of marketers to lift fuel at the Lagos and Port Harcourt depots.
“The problem is that we are not able to buy petrol at the depots, it could be a temporary scarcity but there is no official increase in pump price.
“Right now, I don’t have petrol in my filling station so the price may remain that way until there is enough petrol at the depot for us to buy,” he said.
Another marketer at Amawbia, Mr. James Nnaba said the hike in pump price in the state was as a result of additional amount being charged by major marketers at the depots.
“Yes, we are not able to buy at the normal price, as I am speaking with you, the landing cost of fuel that I have now is N102, so that is the reason we are selling at N105.
“The business is very competitive and people are price responsive, so no marketer will try to cheat customers,” he said.
Nnaba advised the Federal Government to solve the problem of fuel supply by making the refineries maximally functional.
Another dealer, Mr. Emmanuel Orakpo said the problem with petrol distribution in the state is not unconnected with inactive condition of the depot which serves the state.
“It is not our fault, we are only trying to make the product available. The situation at the depot has made N97 unrealistic, if not why should we be buying at N103 including transportation cost,” he questioned.
Orakpo advised the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to collaborate with major marketers to make the product abundantly available and urged the Federal Government to revive the Enugu depot in order to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
