More than N 76. 5bn has been paid for the purchase of petrol by consumers since the downstream oil sector was deregulated in March this year , Okechukwu Nnodim reports


After the Federal Government deregulated the downstream sector of the oil industry on March 19, consumers of Premium Motor Spirit , popularly called petrol, have paid an additional sum of over N 76. 5bn for the purchase of the commodity.
In March when the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency announced the commencement of a deregulated downstream oil sector, the average cost of petrol at filling stations was N 125/litre.
Since then the price of the commodity had been fluctuating, moving upwards in most instances .
It, however , recorded marginal reductions in April and June this year, when it was sold at about N 123. 5/litre.


In May , the pump price was N 125/litre but in July , August and September , it increased and traded at average rates of N 143/litre, N 149/litre and N 158/litre respectively .
When compared to the N 125/litre cost of petrol in March when the downstream sector was deregulated, consumers paid extra N 18, N 24 and N 33 for petrol in July , August and September respectively .
Findings from the most recent monthly operations report of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , which was for July 2020, showed that petrol supply and consumption across the country was 1. 02 billion litres in that month.


The NNPC is currently the major importer of PMS into Nigeria and has maintained this position for more than two years.
Going by the 1. 02 billion litres monthly consumption figure and the N 18 that was paid extra for petrol in July after the deregulation of the downstream oil sector, it means that a total of N 18. 36bn was paid extra by consumers in July .


Similarly , using the 1. 02 billion litres monthly consumption volume, users of PMS made extra payments of N 24. 48bn and N 33. 66bn in August and September respectively

A summation of the payments made in the three - month period showed that consumers of petrol had paid an extra sum of about N 76. 5bn for the commodity after the downstream arm of the oil sector was deregulated.
Oil marketers had continued to dispense petrol at an average price of N 158/litre, which the commodity sold for in September , as the PPPRA had not issued any adjustment in either ex - depot price or pump price.
The pricing regulator had been controlling the cost of the commodity through the provision of guiding price bands as well as ex -depot prices that were released through the Pipelines Product Marketing Company.

https://punchng.com/consumers-paid-n76-5bn-extra-for-petrol-after-deregulation-investigation/

After everything, no proper audit is carried out.