Oil marketers are putting measures in place to ensure that their members comply with the new petrol pump price of N86.50 per litre. They also want to avert further government’s clampdown.
It was gathered that the oil marketers, both major and independent, have set up a monitoring team to carry out a proper audit of the litres of fuel supplied to their outlets across the country since the Federal Government announced the new price regime on January 1, this year and further ensure that the outlets dispense fuel at the new price.
Sources close to some of the marketers said the action was taken to prevent sanctions which include sealing off their outlets, payment of fine and revocation of their operating licences.
General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIPCO, Mr Taofiq Lawal, who confirmed this development at the weekend, said efforts are ongoing to ensure full compliance with the new petrol pump price of N86.50 per litre.
He said NIPCO has set up an in-house team to go the company’s 200 outlets in the country to ascertain their level of compliance with the new fuel price.
According to him, apart from the team, NIPCO is also working with an independent group on the issue, adding that the firm is also using independent group in order to catch its dealers, who may be engaging in sharp practices, unaware and to also sanction them.
He said the sanctions include stopping fuel allocation to any of the erring outlets, selling their fuel free and inviting their managers to the company’s office in Lagos, for questioning,
According to him, NIPCO has been selling fuel at N86.50 per litre since the announcement of the new pump price, and has vowed to deal with its dealers that are caught selling petrol above the regulated price of N86.50.
He said: “The first thing we did in order to create a conducive environment for our dealers was that we gave them concession by reducing the price at which we are supplying fuel to them by 66kobo. Before, we are supplying fuel to them at N77.66, but now we are selling fuel to them at N77. Besides, the firm does not tamper with the margins at which they sell fuel.
“In view of this development, it would sound absurd to see our outlets selling fuel above the normal price of N86.50 per litre. Our teams are on the field to arrest erring dealers.’’
Earlier, he National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Chinedu Okoronkwo, said his members would be selling petrol at N86.50 as soon as they run out of stock. This happened as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Product Pricing and Marketing Company (PPMC) and other agencies are raising up teams o monitor the level of compliance to the new price of N86.50 per litre of fuel, vis-a- via sanctioning marketers, who has failed to comply.