Fuel Hike: IYC Accuses Bayelsa DPR of conniving with Marketers

The Department of Petroleum Resources DPR in Bayelsa state yesterday embarked on a Premium Motor Spirit PMS pump price enforcement exercise, sealing up recalcitrant fuel stations.

Speaking to newmen during the exercise, DPR Operations Comtroller, Yenagoa Field Office, Mrs. Ejiro Ofondu said the exercise was to compel marketers not sell the product above the approved pump price.

Our correspondent who was amongst the DPR monitoring team reports that apart from the NNPC megal filling station along Sani Abacha Express way that sold PMS for N143 per litre, other stations were selling the product above the normal price of N145.

At Sobaz Filling Station, Ekeki in Yenagoa, the product was being sold at N210 per litre while it sold for N205 at Ereboter Oil along Swali Road in the state capital but DPR forced all the stations visited to sell at the normal price.

Meanwhile, a filling station, Ido Oil Nigeria Limited situated along Melford Okilo Expressway in Yenagoa was sealed up by DPR for refusing to sell at the government approved pump price.

However, marketers, who spoke to our correspondent bemoaned the development, describing as an aberration, a situation whereby they bought the product at a higher price and be forced to sell at a lower price.

The Manager of Ereboter Oil, Mr. Ere Peters said, "we are not getting these products from the NNPC, I got petrol from Warri depot at N198 per litre, how can we sell at N145?", he lamented.

Also, the General Manager of Ebi Egrin and Sons Nigeria Limited, Mr. Austin Emmanuel said" government should not only be quick to enforce price but should also try to know how we get the product. You can't expect somebody to buy a product at a higher rate and sell at a lower price.

When asked to comment on the complaints by the marketers, Mrs. Ofondu said, "our duty is to regulate pump prices, we are not suppliers, we don't stock oil".

Meanwhile, a mild drama plaid out when members of the Ijaw You Council worldwide in a convoy led by its Secretary General, Comrade Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha ran into the convoy of DPR and warned that they will seal up all the filling stations in the state if they refused to stick to the normal price.

The IYC Scribe complained that the marketers were selling above pump price immediately the DPR team left the stations.

Responding, The DPR boss said, "I hope you don't want to take over our job from us. I will only advise that you report to us whenever you see any one selling above pump price and we shall seal that station up.

A car owner who gave his name as Mr. Otolo while speaking to our correspondent on the issue commended DPR for intervening but complained that their action would have come earlier when motorists were groaning during the Yuletide.

- Copied from John Odhe

Meanwhile according to Slim Lishman, the Ijaw Youth Council IYC has accused the Department of Petroleum Resources in Bayelsa  state of conniving with marketers to sell above government approved price.

The Secretary General of the Ijaw Youth Council Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha says they are reliably informed that for every litre of petrol sold in Yenagoa the DPR gets five naira from it.