Consumers across Osun State are currently bemoaning the increase in price of Petrol pump price by marketers in the state.
InsightMedia gathered that many filling station in Osogbo, the state capital and its suburb have hiked the price of Petrol from the announced N143.8 to as high as N153 per litre.
In some of the filling stations visited by our Correspondent along Ilobu-Osogbo road up to Ojutu bridge, the price of fuel was put at between N148 to N150 per litre.
When asked, some of the petrol attendants said they have started selling at that rate since Wednesday as ordered by either their managers or station owners.
“We started selling at N150 on Wednesday. Our boss ordered us to start selling like that. In fact, we sold for N155 naira. Within just five minutes, we used three different prices before we arrived at this.” One attendant told our Correspondent.
Speaking with our Correspondent, a commercial driver, Mr Wasiu Agbede lamented bitterly about the increment the price. He said the federal government has not announced the hike but marketers have effected it.
He said, “This is very bad. Government has not increased the fuel pump price but the marketers have effected it based on speculations that they hear. We’re just punishing ourselves and the government is not also sincere about it.
Another consumer, Mr Adewale Sanusi condemned the federal government, accusing the government of insincerity with Nigerians.
“The Government is just subjecting is to hardship. Why the increase of petrol pump price during this COVID-19 pandemic? Buhari’s government has failed us. We thought he would help us but it seems they are only prepared to punish us.” Sanusi said.
However, a memo signed by Dele Tajudeen, the Zonal Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, ordered members of the association to start selling petrol at N150 per litre.
The message sighted by our Correspondent reads, “Good morning distinguished Marketers. No doubt PMS has been deregulated from the body language of PPPRA and NNPC/PPMC. Having waited for more than 48 hours after letter of increase of EX DEPOT price from PPMC without PUMP price from both agencies.
“On behalf of IPMAN Western Zone, Members are directed to start selling PMS @ N150 per litre with immediate effect from today 6/8/2020”.
