The Petrol Station Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria says Port Harcourt has not witnessed any form of petroleum scarcity or price increase for the past two months because of efforts of the Association that has stabilized products supply and availability.
Zonal chairman of PETROAN Sunny Mpke said the Association has reached its wit-ends in ensuring Rivers people don’t go through petroleum scarcity like that of the Lagos and Abuja populace.
Sunny Mpke said most of its members might be forced to shut down for non availability and increase of petroleum products at the depots, as most private tank farms are now selling 168 naira as against 148 naira.
“We are seriously concerned over the situation of petrol availability and price here in Port Harcourt. Lagos and Abuja raised a late alarm over the situation they are facing now. They didn’t prepare their marketers for this situation, that’s why they are where they are now. Why Port Harcourt hasn’t gone bad as Lagos and Abuja is because we have been sensitizing our members to try to adapt to what we call emergency measures”.
“We ensured our members got enough products while we are alerting the relevant agencies about the looming situation of price hike at the depots. There is even no justification for the depot owners to be increasing price of petrol arbitrary without carrying along we the marketers. For the past past two months we have been selling at loss: buying at 163 naira from the depots and selling at 165 naira which is not sustainable, that’s what we have been sacrificing for Rivers people. Right now, we can’t sustain that again because we now buy at 168 naira. And we have to remain in business, or we shut down” he cried.
Chairman of the Petrol Station Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria Sunny Mkpe said the Association is already holding meeting with it’s sister bodies and regulatory agencies to find solutions to the impending petrol pump price increase in the state.
He said it’s members may increase the pump price against the regulated price to avert scarcity and to be able to relief Rivers people from any sufferings.
“We just finished a meeting with the regulatory agency yesterday Tuesday and we will also meet the government to alert them of the situation and the public should also be aware that we have to increase the pump price to 180 naira to sustain products and keep serving Rivers people. So our situation won’t be like that of Lagos and Abuja. This situation may linger until the NNPC up their games in supply and distribution”.
our correspondent who monitored most petrol station outlets in Woji, Elelenwon, Slaughter and odili road reports that some of them are selling at 180 per liter while few are closed for lack of products.
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