See the shocking plan federal government has for petrol prices

 – Market experts have warned the federal government could increase petrol prices

 – The experts said the rise would be due to global prices of crude oil rising since the start of the year

 – Nigeria remains plagued by an acute shortage of fuel and petroleum products for vehicles

The Federal Government may increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol due to the increase in the cost of crude oil on the international market.

Crude oil price had fallen below N6000 per barrel earlier this year, but as of May 2, 2016, the commodity’s cost rose to N9120, according to data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The oil marketers told Punch News that the current challenge they faced in the industry was how to sustain the improvement in the supply of petrol across the country.

The petrol scarcity crisis has been ongoing for months

They said they had started importing petrol as many oil majors and a few independent dealers were accessing US dollars, as promised by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr Ibe Kachikwu.

The Corporate Affairs Manager of Nipco Plc, a renowned oil marketing firm, Lawal Taofeeq, stated that the petrol subsidy issue must be managed properly by the government in order to ensure adequate sustenance of the present improvement in fuel supply across the country.

“We’ve started importing products. But on sustenance, it depends on how the government handles the issue of subsidy. You know subsidy on petrol has returned and its management will go a long way in affecting fuel supply,” Taofeeq said.

“Before, there was no subsidy on petrol. But now, considering the rise in crude oil price, there is subsidy despite the fact that the official pump price hasn’t been changed. So, if the subsidy issue is not managed properly, marketers may not want to import the product unless they are sure of their money.

READ ALSO:  31 ships laden with petroleum products to arrive in Lagos

“The government has been using the price modulation technique, and as crude oil price is going up, it will be adjusting the pump price of petrol. Any moment from now, there may be an upward review in the pump price of petrol to take care of the rise in the price of crude oil in the international market.”

Taofeeq stated that although petrol supply had improved considerably, some filling stations had yet to start getting the product seamlessly.

 “The level of supply has improved but you still find out that in some areas, not all the petrol stations dispense the product. All the stations cannot have fuel at the same time. For instance, on Ikorodu Road in Lagos, you still find queues in front of some petrol stations.

“This is because not all the outlets on this road are dispensing fuel as of today (Friday). The supply mechanism cannot take or get to all the stations in one day. Some may have to hold on for about four to five days before it gets to them. And when it gets to them, others may have exhausted their product. That is why you see queues in some places.”

The Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr Obafemi Olawore, stated that the NNPC had ensured that petrol dealers will be supplied, adding that many marketers had also started importing the product.

“That is the challenge all of us face now. The sustenance is now the issue but we will try to sustain it.”

 “The NNPC has done a lot. Let us give it to them because they’ve truly done a lot. We have also been bringing in the product but majority of the vessels were brought in by the NNPC. That is why I say it is right for dealers and consumers to laud them this time around.”

READ ALSO:  Fuel would sell at N99,38 per litre without subsidy

The post See the shocking plan federal government has for petrol prices appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM (Nigerian newspapers).