’Femi Asu

The price of kerosene, used by majority of Nigerians for cooking, has risen to as much as N300 per litre in many parts of the country, with many depots in Lagos not loading the product.

Our correspondent gathered that the supply of kerosene by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation through its subsidiary, Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, which marketers largely depend on for the product, has reduced in recent weeks.

Out of 36 depots surveyed in Apapa, only one, Index, was loading dual purpose kerosene as of Friday.

Strong indications also emerged that despite the recent liberalisation of the fuels market, many marketers had yet to start importing kerosene as they continued to focus on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

In Lagos, a number of filling stations did not have kerosene to sell on Tuesday, while some of those that had the product were selling for as much N220 per litre, especially in Ikorodu.

With the non-availability of the product at many filling stations, roadside vendors were selling 4.5 litres of kerosene for between N1,200 and N1,400.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos Zone, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said in a telephone interview with our correspondent, “It is not only kerosene; it is also affecting diesel. Diesel is now being sold at between N185 and N200 per litre as against N105-N110.

“The reason is not far-fetched; the System 2B of the PPMC has collapsed and that has been the system that has been maintaining the supply chain of the PPMC for a while. For the past one month now, the headquarters of the System 2B, which is Mosimi, has not been loading a single litre. So, they are not pumping to Ejigbo, Ibadan, Ilorin and Ore.

“Depots in Apapa rely on getting the PPMC products to their tank farms. Instead of the depot owners in Apapa to supplement the supply from the government, they are busy waiting for the PPMC products. The major oil marketers and DAPPMA are not bringing in diesel or kerosene; those who have access to the available supply are capitalising on the scarcity to maximise their profits.”

Korodo said the prices of kerosene and diesel would continue to go up if they were not being loaded at the PPMC depots.

He said some of the marketers had refused to get involved in kerosene importation because of foreign exchange constraints.

“Government needs to revisit its so-called deregulation and ensure that there is a strict compliance by the major and independent marketers,” Korodo said.

A source, who is an official of an independent marketing outfit that has a depot in Lagos, said, “One major issue is that of all the depots in Lagos; I don’t think there are more than three that have kerosene now.”

The National Operations Controller, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, said, “Everything has to do with supply. If there is short supply, definitely, the price will go up. That is the problem.

“Marketers concentrate more on the importation of PMS. But now that the market has shown that there is short supply of kerosene, I expect marketers to shift attention to kerosene.”

The Executive Director, Supply and Distribution, PPMC, Mr. Justin Ezeala, had yet to respond to phone calls and a text message sent to his mobile telephone line as of the time of filing the report.

www.punchng.com/kerosene-soars-to-n300litre-as-supply-drops/

APC CHANGE means - Skyrocketing of price of commodities, Hardship to citizens and hunger in the land, which will definitely lead to rise in crime.

Just imagine common Kerosene is 300 Naira per litre. Yes, I see "CHANGE".

Happy Eid El Fitri

This will strike hard that the poor and the rich might never recover...Have anyone noticed that the price of cooking gas has gone up by up to 60% ? as i wan run enter kerosene now this bad news...Any hope for me my fellow nairalanders??/

Fit your car now with a tracker.check my signature..

SeverusSnape:
APC change means - Skyrocketing of price of commodities, Hardship to citizens and hunger in the land.

that's the real definition of ALL POVERTY CONTINUE. APC

It might not seem to bother a lot of people because they use gas including me.... but we should have it in mind that we are no different from those that use it..

There is no other way to explain starvation... people are dying of hunger...

90% of villages and towns use kerosine...

Buhari should walk the streets and hear first hand from the populace, not some hogwash report from advisers

Chaii.....

Hunger dey town, no salary to pay workers, prices of commodity sky rocketing.....

We are indeed in d change era....

But come to think of it, are we the only country hit by economic downfall?

Do you think we have the right hands on deck to solve this present challenge?

Do we need the president to change his economic management team?

This administration kept on crying "E GO BETA" How long shall it take it for things to get better...

The pertinent question that kept on repeating itself is that.....Which economic decision of this present administration has brought out positive result on the masses??

How long are we going to wait before we start enjoying dividends of voting APC to power?

Gas ti takeover


Notwithstanding, its does not augur well for majority of the masses.

Sometimes, I just wonder if anything could work in Nigeria.

Nawa ooo...I just don't know what to say

here in surulere it has been sold for 300 for close to one mnth nw

this is really bad

Kerosene is no longer affordable to the poor... wow!

damton:
n

for nail

Indeed ...this is interesting .Change chanters can explain better.

U neva c anything
*1985repeatingitself*

waiting 4 APC e-rat to come & defend their master, awon werey

I still respect APC.

Why is everything going bad under Buhari sef?

Bubu needs to go for deliverance!

It is becoming clear that his village people don't want his govt to succeed.

... ...

APC and change are like bread and Butter

Massive Deforestation looming....We are going back to the ages of using firewood.... God help us!

Deforestation loading.......

Nna mehn this change dikwa real..*dustingmypvcimpatientlywaitingfor2019*

When will this issue with kerosene ever end?

Troubling news on a daily basis.

Nothing never cost, Cooking gas, now 4500 for 12.5kg. Na firewood we go begin use?

Gbese Re O

Ddonoflife:
for nail

Police look elsewhere.

Despite d massive looting of d treasury during PDP regime as claimed by APC, there was no inflation & hardship as we witness today. Wat could b d reason pls?

The solution to our problem is within but our leaders are myopic, still operating in primitive way of trade by barter even in this 21st century. God save us thy children.

Notting works under this MAN called Buhari.... I am not surprise anyway what should i expect from a school cert. failure ?

Change is the only constant tin in life...



But I don't think I bargained for dis kind of destructive APC-change

Ok