Fuel Queues Disappear As Marketers Dispense Above N165

The queues for petrol by motorists has reduced as more filling stations join in dispensing the product.

Some of these fillings stations, however, dispensed petrol at rates above the approved N165/litre price.

According to punch, some filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory are selling to motorists above the approved rate.

Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria in an interview with Punch noted that they are not aware of any meeting between oil marketers and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority.

The NMDPRA had on Wednesday noted that it was meeting with oil marketers on issues bordering on the cost of petrol, payment of bridging claims and other concerns in the downstream oil sector.

The regulator, however, did not reveal the detail of the meeting on Thursday when contacted to speak on whether there would be an increase in petrol price going by the demands of IPMAN, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, as well as the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association.

Commenting on the development, the National Public Relations Officer, IPMAN, Ukadike Chinedu, said the current situation with petrol price showed that the government was not against calls for an upward review of PMS price.

He said, “The issue about increasing PMS price has been their (government) only solution to ending subsidy, but because of this (2023) election that is coming they are restricting themselves.”

On whether the government through the NMDPRA had any meeting with IPMAN members, Ukadike replied, “I’m not aware of any such meeting, but if there was any meeting I’ll let you know.”

When told that the queues in Abuja and neighbouring states were gradually disappearing, the IPMAN official stated that more marketers had returned from the Sallah break to resume business.