As motorists queue endlessly at petrol stations, without buying, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday debunked rumours of imminent hike in petroleum pump prices, stating that there is no plan to increase prices of the product this year.
The corporation�s General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma who spoke with THISDAY at the weekend described as unfounded the news of increase in petroleum prices, noting that the President�s resolve not to increase the pump prices of the product this year is still in force.
On the current scarcity of Petrol in the country, which has crippled activities this yuletide, Ajuonuma maintained that there in no petrol scarcity, insisting that the corporation is adequate in terms of product availability.
He attributed the situation to yuletide period which he said, calls for demand for more services adding that the NNPC is even supplying more than the 30 million litres national daily demand in Lagos.
He blame the endless queues being witnessed in Lagos and other states of the federation on activities of attendants at the filing stations, who he said sell from only one point, thereby creating impression that the product is scarce.
He appealed to the management of the various petrol stations to call their staff to order and warned that the Directorate of Petroleum Resources will descend heavily on such stations that are not selling as they ought to.
He stated that a visit to some of the petrol stations showed that each of them had a truck filled with petrol waiting to offload.
While insisting that there is no product scarcity, Ajuonuma regretted that petrol attendants collaborate with street urchins who buy in jerry cans and sell to people at higher rates.
He however assured that Lagos was receiving more attention, as the corporation has double its supply in the state.
The current situation has crippled activities in Lagos and other states this yuletide as motorists wait endlessly at filling stations without buying.
While some petrol stations sell at N72 or more per litre, others prefer selling to those who part with amounts ranging between N200 and N300 to be allowed to buy with jerry cans.
They in turn sell to readily buyers, some of who had queued for 12 hours or more without buying from the pumps. A visit to some filling stations in Ikeja and environs showed that motorists pay a token of N200 to be allowed to queue up. Four litre jerry can goes for between N1,000 and N1,200 at some stations, while 10 litres is sold at N3,000 at the black market.
Dec252006