The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has declared that the fierce competition between Dangote refinery and NNPC Limited is responsible for the recent drop in the pump price of petrol in the country.
NEW DAILY PRIME observed yesterday that most petrol retail outlets have reduced their pump prices in response to drop in ex-depot prices by Dangote Refinery and the Port Harcourt Refinery.
While NNPC Retail reduced its price from N1,030 to N965 per litre, other retailers like AA Rano and AYM Sharfa dropped their pump price from N1,070 to N1,020 per litre.
However despite these reductions, it was observed that pump price at Conoil remained at N1,090 per litre, the same as it was in November.
IPMAN’s Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukadike said competition between the local refineries and the smooth flow of the product have resulted in the reduction in prices.
According to him, “It is a good development for independent marketers and for consumers too. Now, because of increased demand, price normally goes up during this period but right now the opposite is the case. Availability has been taken care of and we are now seeing price war among the gladiators, NNPC and Dangote.
“By next year when the Warri and Kaduna refineries are expected to come onstream, things will even be more interesting.”
Ukadike noted that independent marketers were now able to buy directly from both refineries because “there is a slight increase in turnover. When the price was around N1,300/litre most of our members barely sold 5,000 litres daily but we are doing far better than this.
“We are also now able to get products directly. NNPC portal is open now for marketers to take as much product as they want. Dangote has also heeded our call and reduced the volume for bulk purchase eligibility.
“Initially it was limited to 10 million litres but now they sell at two million litres which is about N2 billion. This is more bearable for independent marketers who are now able to come together to place orders for the product.”
