The assumption of sales of petrol to the NNPCL Sunday has suddenly seen many hitherto closed fuel stations open and selling petrol in parts of Lagos Monday.
This is as analysts have said the new price of petrol will emerge in weeks time by October when the sales of crude oil in local currency, naira becomes effective October.
According to them, both the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) are saying half truths and lies, depending on from which prism it is looked at.
Ayo Ogidan, a fuel station owner told Blueprint Newspaper that, the petrol Dangote Refinery is selling, beginning from last Sunday is a product of imported crude oil the refinery imported.
“So the argument by the Dangote Refinery that the N898 per litre price is not the real deal, and so cannot be the official price as announced by the NNPCL.
“On the other hand, NNPCL’s claim of N889 pet litre is seen by the company as another truth because, for now, that is what it’s probably paying for the current consignment”, said Ogidan.
But this is as marketers who had earlier claimed their tankers we’re dry, opened shop yesterday, fearing that petrol price may fall soon.
“They are now anxious to sell off old stocks to ensure they are not left with possible expensive old stock, while prices fall”, said David Chigozie, a transporter.
But Remi Ogun, a resident said, the though of petrol price coming down may be short-lived with the new price released by NNPCL.
Remind said, “currently, the imported price of petrol at NNPCL’S stations is cheaper than that produced in Nigeria, with no landing cost”.
Dangote Refinery last night refuted the claim made by the NNPCL spokesperson: It clarified that it does not sell petrol at the alleged rate of N898 per litre, labelling the assertion as “misleading and mischievous.”
Dangote’s group chief branding and communications officer, Anthony Chiejina, said in a statement that the false claim was an attempt to undermine the significant progress in addressing Nigeria’s long-standing energy challenges.
He urged the public to disregard the claims and await an official announcement from the Technical Sub-Committee on Naira-based crude sales, set to begin operations on October 1, 2024.
The NNPC Ltd assures that if the quoted pricing is disputed, it will be grateful for any discount from the Dangote Refinery, which will be passed on 100 per cent to the general public, Olufemi Soneye Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd said.
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