Fuel price cut: Why marketers’ compliance may be delayed

Barely 24 hours after the Federal Government slashed the
pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), there have been
rising apprehensions among Nigerians about the level of
compliance by marketers.
However, the process, particularly in Abuja, the nation’s
capital, has recorded slow progress. Government had last
Sunday directed immediate compliance and metre adjustment
by all marketers across the country.
Though some fuel stations around Abuja city centre have since
complied and adjusted their pumps to N87 from N97, many
were yet to do so at the time of this report.
Majority of those fuel stations that have effected the directives
are mostly those owned by major petroleum Marketers.
A situation report monitored in Abuja shows that all the NNPC
mega and retail stations have complied while others belonging
to Oando, Total and others have also complied.
The situation is, however, different with the stations owned by
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) as
they complained that most of their members were yet to
exhaust their old stock bought before the directives.
IPMAN National President, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, told
Daily Sun in a telephone interview in Abuja that it was just a
matter of time before his members would comply with the new
order, stating that he has since officially directed all members
to adjust their pumps in line with the Federal Government’s
order.
“IPMAN has since this morning (yesterday) directed all
members to comply. But you know the directives came
suddenly and most of our members are in far areas so they
may not have heard of the new order by government so we
have to get them informed through our communication
means.
“We at IPMAN are, however, very grateful to government for
the decision and urged all members to quickly comply.”
Also speaking with reporters, Head of Media for the
Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mallam
Mohammed Saidu, said the department has raised a team
of enforcers at the Abuja office and other offices throughout
the country to ensure all marketers comply.
He said the teams that were raised by the Director General,
Mr. George Osahon, have been mandated to ensure all meters
are selling at the new price.
He stated that the department has given marketers till today
for those that have technical hitches in adjusting theirs to do
so or face severe sanctions.
The situation in the satellite towns of Abuja monitored by our
correspondent shows maximum compliance compared to
those in the city centre.
In the city, those selling at the new price had long queues of
motorists while some have locked their stations and refused to
speak with reporters.
Some motorists who spoke expressed gratitude to government
but regretted that ”this was coming a little late than
expected.”