Fuel sells for N43, N50 per litre
By Our Reporters
DESPITE the recent court order that oil marketers revert to the old fuel price of N38 per litre, reports from various states of the country have confirmed that the dealers still sold the product between N43 and N50 per litre.
Even as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called-off its nationwide strike, some oil marketing companies are yet to comply with the directive given by a Federal High Court that the Federal Government should revert to old fuel prices.
This is confirmed by investigation carried out by The Guardian around Lagos metropolis at the weekend. The NLC suspended the strike to allow marketers adjust their fuel pump metres to the pre-January price of N38 per litre.
A Mobil station at Ijegun, on the outskirts of the metropolis, was dispensing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol for N49.80 per litre while another, Conoil outlet on the same road, also sold for N49.80.
The managers at the two stations declined to make any comment on why they were still selling at the old price.
But an attendant at one of the stations disclosed that they were selling from the stock they got before the strike began, adding that they had not received any directive from their headquarters to revert to the old prices. Some petrol stations were shut out and did not display any prices on their boards.
However, most independent and major marketers around Lagos have slashed prices. For instance, stations such as Texaco, AP, Fatgbem, Honeywell, Total, Conoil, Oando, and Mobil sold for between N41.70 and N43.50 per litre.
But some marketers preferred to sell to roadside fuel hawkers at night thereby causing artificial scarcity.
Some black marketers yesterday displayed petrol in jerry cans along the Local Airport road where they sold10 litres for N600.
A bus driver who spoke with The Guardian said the Mobil station on the airport road was found during the strike dispensing petrol to black-market at night.
"These two filling stations are notorious for hoarding fuel and selling to black marketers. They have fuel but they will not sell, come and see them in the night selling to those selling in jerry cans," he said.
The prices of foodstuff have meanwhile refused to go down as the traders complained that transport fares have not changed even after the strike was called off.
For instance, a tuber of yam sold at the weekend for about N150.00 while a measure of rice which sold for N65.00 before the strike now goes for N75.
The strike action which was slated for 21 days was called off only three days after its started on the ground that marketers were willing to revert to the old prices.
The non-compliance of some of the marketers may however arose the wrath of the NLC as it may be forced to resume the strike action after the expiration of the seven days given for full compliance to revert to the old pump prices.
Even as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called off its nationwide strike, some oil marketing companies are yet to comply with the directive given by a Federal High Court that the Federal Government should revert to old fuel price.
This is confirmed by investigation carried out by The Guardian around Lagos metropolis, at the weekend following the NLC suspension of the strike whereby it was discovered that some petrol stations are still selling for above N41.50.
At a Mobil station at Ijegun, on the outskirts of the metropolis, a Mobil petrol station was dispensing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol for N49.80 per litre while another Conoil outlet on the same road sold for N49.80.
The managers at the two stations declined to make any comment why they we're still selling at the old price.
But an attendant at one of the stations disclosed that they were selling from the stock they got before the strike began, adding that they had not received any directive from their headquarters to revert to the old prices.
Moreso, some petrol stations were found still shut out and no price whether old or new was found on their display boards.
However most independent and major marketers around Lagos complied. For instance, stations such as Texaco, AP, Fatgbem, Honeywell, Total, Conoil and Oando sold for between N41.70 and N43.50 per litre.
Besides, some petrol marketers preferred to sell to petrol road hawkers, popularly known as (black marketers) at night thereby causing artificial scarcity.
As evidence some black marketers were found displaying petrol in jerry cans along the local Airport road and selling 10 litres for an average of N600.00.
A bus driver who spoke with The Guardian said the Mobil station on the airport road was found during the strike dispensing petrol to black-market at night.
"These two filling stations are notorious for hoarding fuel and selling to black marketers. They have fuel but they will not sell, come and see them in the night selling to those selling in jerry cans," he said.
The prices of foodstuff have meanwhile refused to go down as the traders complained that transport fare have not changed even after the strike was called off.
For instance a tuber of yam sold at the weekend for about N150.00 while a measure of rice which sold for N65.00 before the strike now goes for N75.
In a related development, Lagos metropolis came to life again at the weekend after the suspension of the strike. Motorists started operating in full swing. Traders resumed in their various markets and shops, while those who had slated the day for their various functions hurried to make up for the time lost during the strike. Many residents who had been waiting anxiously for the strike to be called off heaved a sigh of relief. But very little did they know that the worst was still to come.
Two days after, Lagosians are still living with the strike's effects. Most motorists thought that the prices of petroleum products would change immediately. But they were wrong, as most filling stations have refused to revert to the old price, making fuel hawkers to have a field day.
According to a motorist, Mr. Johnson Olukoya, "now, we cannot even see the petrol to buy except from the black market. We are paying more than the N50 per litre, because many of the filling stations are not selling.
The suspension of the strike did not also change transport fares in the metropolis because many of them were still buying fuel from the black market. Although there were many commercial vehicles plying the various routes in the metropolis but the fares were still high.
At Yaba Market, trading has resumed in full swing.
At Oshodi Market, every available space was filled up with traders and buyers.
A resident who said it was her turn to host members of her club expressed happiness that God has finally answered her prayers, saying, "the strike would have crippled my day."
Many residents were out on the streets, enabling many commuter vehicles to have enough passengers.
Meanwhile, normalcy has finally returned to Kaduna State after the Labour backed strike, which paralysed businesses last week.
Filling stations have started selling fuel to motorists at reduced prices while the long queues noticed at some of the stations immediately the strike was called off have began to ease out yesterday.
At Total, Texaco filling stations, their meters read N44.80 per litre while Mobile sold at N43.
An official of Total Filling Station along Stadium roundabout told The Guardian that "since the NLC called off the strike we have reversed all our meters to read N44.80 per litre of fuel and we have been attending to customers."
Besides, the deserted roads and streets in Kaduna metropolis during strike at the weekend came alive as business premises and some banks that operate Saturday banking opened to render services to their customers.
There were long queues of customers at Standard Trust Bank (STB), Afribank Plc along Ahmadu Bello Way and Union Bank Plc.
One of the bank customers, Malam Isiaku Musa said, "we thank God that the strike is over and pray that the government should co-operate with NLC and Nigerians not to face this hardship again.
In the same vein, the chairman, Kwara State Chapter of NLC, Mr. Emmanuel Ayeoribe has urged oil marketers in the state to ensure strict compliance with the current fixed prices of the products as directed by an Abuja High Court.
Ayeoribe, while monitoring the sales of the products at the weekend in Ilorin, alleged that some marketers were yet to revert to the old prices.
According to him, "we have seen some filling stations selling premium motor spirit at the rate of N43.20 per litre. This is good but we still have a very large number selling at ridiculous rate of between N50 and N47 per litre.
"We shall continue to tell them the implication of what they are doing. If they fail to listen to the voice of reason, we know how best to handle the situation but I pray it will not yet get to that level," he said.
The labour leader underlined the caveat used by the National President of the NLC, Adams Oshiomhole in announcing the suspension of the strike: "The strike was not called off but suspended" .
He said that Oshiomhole had given the marketers one week to comply with the court order asking them to revert to the status quo.
It was observed that about one-third of the filling stations in Ilorin were presently not selling fuel.
The transport fares however, remain at N20 but the commercial motorcyclists have increased fares from N20 to N30.
