New pump price: Filling stations in Ogun yet to comply

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Most filling stations in Ogun state, western Nigeria, are yet to comply with the federal government directives on the reduction in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol.

Federal government had directed that from 1 January, 2016, all NNPC Mega stations should sell fuel at a pump price of N86.00 per litre while major and independent marketers are to sell at N86.50 per litre.

But investigation around many filling stations in some parts of Ogun state by our correspondent on Saturday revealed that only the NNPC filling station at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta has so far complied with the directive in the state.

Most filling stations visited in Abeokuta such as World oil, Ebenfem, Fatgbems, Mao all in Abeokuta, the capital city, are still selling between N110 – N130 per litre.

Findings at Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Igbo, Ota, Ogbere, Sagamu, Iro, Sango, Ifo, and along Abeokuta-Lagos old road, down to Yewa axis of the state, revealed that most filling stations are not selling at the pump price directed by the federal government.

Some of those who spoke with PMNEWS expressed dissatisfaction over non compliance by the marketers.

They called on the officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to commence monitoring of filling stations in the state to ensure compliance with the new pump price approved by the Federal Government .

A driver who simply identified himself as Olorunwa appealed to the government to urgently enforce the directive, adding that “most of these people don’t understand any language than force”.

Alhaja Atinuke, a motorist who went to a filling station at Oloomore area in Abeokuta to buy fuel, created a scene when she refused to pay N120 demanded by the petrol attendant. Instead, she insisted on paying the official pump price of N86.50k.

The incident, which lasted for about 20mins, caused a lot of pandemonium, as some people abused her while others praised her courage for insisting on her right.

Another woman on the queue later helped to pay on behalf of Atinuke to settle the matter which was about getting out of hand.

She refused to speak with our correspondent as she continued saying that, “I will not allow you people to spoil this government, you must comply, either by fire or force”, until she zoomed off.

Information gathered revealed that one filling station,NNPC and another one located at Babcock University junction, along Sagamu -Ijebu Ode road are selling at the official price while others are yet to comply.

One of the officials who spoke with our correspondent under anonymity revealed that DPR will soon storm the state to correct all the anomalies.

The official declared that “anything above the two specified official pump prices by the federal government would attract serious sanctions from us.”

The source expressed concern about the attitude of some of the major and independent marketers who, according to the official, “are good in dodging us when we get to their stations but this time around, we have perfected our plans and they have no hiding place anymore.”

The official threatened that any filling station caught flouting the directive would face the wrath of law.

On the official website of the DPR, it was boldly posted that Nigerians should alert them on any erring filling station that would not sell at the official pump price of N86.50.

Several civil society group in the state have resolved to resist the major and independent marketers as they are planning to picket some filling stations in the state.