Petrol hike: NNPC outlets dispense fuel above official price

Following the recent warning of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to independent marketers on the arbitrary pump price of PMS- Petrol, above the official price of N87 per litre, Hallmark investigation has gathered that most NNPC filling stations in Lagos state have joined other independent filling stations in the state to dispense petrol to motorists between N100 and N120.

Recall that DPR at an emergency meeting with the marketers last week Wednesday in Lagos, warned depot operators and marketers against arbitrary increase in the ex-depot and pump prices of petrol.

The department had cautioned operators to desist from selling petrol and kerosene above government stipulated prices.

The Acting Director, DPR, Mr Danteni Ladan, who issued the warning, said that the department will sanction the defaulters by withdrawing their licences.

Our correspondent who visited some of the filling stations witnessed some of attendants of the corporation outlets dispensing above official price ranging from between N90 and N100 to motorists.

Some of the NNPC filling stations visited included, Abule Egba- Ekoro Road and Abule Tailor, Abattoir, Adura and Alakuko off Lagos Ibadan Express road.

Others are NNPC outlet in Amuwo, Festac area of Lagos is selling petrol at N100/litre.

Some of the motorists revealed to Hallmark that despite the N87 on the fuel flow meter in some of the outlets, the attendants still take advantage of unsuspecting customers to sell above the official rate.

A motorcyclist, Mr. Aderogba Kehinde revealed that he was turned down by an attendant of the NNPC outlets in Alakuko and Gateway Hotel when he refused to pay above the N87.

Another motorist at the NNPC station in Amuwo NNPC outlets deplored the corporation for allowing its attendants to sell above the officials pump price without sanction.

According to him , in the past one week he had bought the 20 litres of petrol for N2000.

In a call put across the DPR Lagos office, was not honoured as the department’s public relation, Mrs. Dorathy, did not respond to call made to her number.