Why we sell fuel above official rate in Ilorin – IPMAN

Kwara State Branch Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Mallam AbdulRasheed Olopade said that they are selling the Premium Motor Spirit is still being sold beyond the 87 naira official price because of the expenses incurred in getting the product at private depots in Lagos.

He made the disclosure during an interview with Pilot Business at his office in Ilorin on Wednesday.

Findings by Pilot Business revealed that most of the petrol stations across the state capital sell the petrol product above the official pump price.

He explained that the last time marketers sold pms at official rate was when they were loading the product at Oke-Oyi Depot in Ilorin.

He said, "The last time product was sold at official rate by independent marketers here in Ilorin was when loading at NNPC Oke-Oyi depot. So, it does not only affect us in Kwara State. All stations across Ekiti, Niger, Kogi and Osun States have not been selling at official rate since loading has stopped here".

"Due to the development, what we witness in Ilorin was extreme in the recent fuel scarcity in the country because of that singular factor."

Olopade stressed that all the products marketers are selling is what they bridge (buy products from another depot using Ilorin depot marketers list) from private depots in Lagos.

He said, "Official bridging is gradually becoming difficult now. For instance, some marketers spent over 3weeks to load fuel in private depots in Lagos. Because Ilorin depot does not have fuel they will send ticket to Lagos for bridging."

"If these tickets are not due on time, all the expenses become a burden to the marketers. The cost of transport to lift fuel from Lagos to Ilorin is between N180, 000 to N200, 000. If marketer spend a week in Lagos, the running expenses is close to N100, 000 and the security agencies problems are still there. The only reason we could be selling at the official rate is when loading start again at Oke-Oyi Depot".

"There is a no way marketer will bring the product from private depots in Lagos which they are selling to them at the rate of N95, N96 per litre and you expect them to sell at official rate?”

The IPMAN boss reiterated that government should not relax over the problem on ground on why Ilorin depot has not been loading.

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