The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has blamed private depot owners for hike in the pump price of petrol in some parts of Nigeria.

IPMAN’s National President, Chinedu Okoronkwo, in an interview, said that some of the private depot owners had not reduced their ex-depot price for petrol.

“Some of our members are still buying products at higher ex-depot prices. Hence you see that some of them are selling more than the approved pump price of N165,” Mr Okoronkwo said.

Some independent marketers are still selling petrol from between N180 to N200 per litre in their stations, especially in the interior parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

Mr Okonronkwo, however, urged the federal government to engage the depot owners to revert to the regular price to ensure uniformity.

He noted that the scarcity of PMS experienced across the country in the past few weeks was almost ending.

On the compensation of motorists affected by the imported off-spec petrol, he said IPMAN members were still compiling the list which would be subjected to scrutiny.

“We are compiling the list and very soon marketers will present it to the relevant government agencies.

“We want to make sure that some unscrupulous persons don’t take advantage of the situation to exploit the government.

“We believe that those affected will be compensated at the end of the day and are advising them to be patient and law-abiding.” 

(NAN)