Petrol to cost more in South East, as IPMAN renews call to fix enugu depot
The Independent Petroleum Market Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol may be sold for above N170 in the South East because of cost delivering products at the stations.
Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN Enugu Depot Community said this while reacting to the increase in price of PMS and the challenges faced by marketers under the depot.
Anyaso called on the federal government to reactivate the Enugu Depot, Emene which had been moribund since 2005.
He said the depot was strategic to the national economy as serves Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and parts of North Central including Benue states.
The chairman said the cost of transporting products from Lagos, Warri, Benin, Calabar and other location was huge and that marketers don’t get their equalisation fund (acquilla) as and when due.
He said marketers in the zone incur huge loss due to incessant crashes and spill as a result of poor road conditions.
“We want to use this opportunity to renew our appeal to the federal government to repair the Enugu Depot in Emene so that our members can start lifting product from here.
“This Depot have been shutdown for over 15 years due to what they called ‘pipeline vadalism’ but our members are suffering and the people of the south east which it serve are also suffering.
“For instance, ex-depot price has been increased to N151.56, we will have to pay addition N14 for transportation and other expenses per litre depending on where we loaded before it is discharged in our stations.
“That will not be case if the product is pumped to the depot in Enugu and lifted from there, it will be much cheaper for us and enable us to sell between N160 and N162 per litre.
“We are ready to work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) on security, fixing the Enugu depot will also help a better deregulated sector which the federal government is pursing, “ he said.
Anyaso called on members of IPMAN under the zone to continue to provide best services to the people to the best of their ability.
He further called on the governments of the states under the depot to escalate their plea and do their own part to get the facility running as soon as possible.
According to him, it is not just about profit for IPMAN members, it is about value for money for the people in these states, the masses in these states also need some economic protection which the governments should provide.
