Owners of petrol stations across the country yesterday adjusted their pump prices upward to reflect the latest increase in supply costs.
In the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) for instance, a litre sold for N998 at most Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) outlets. Major and independent marketers dispensed a litre higher.
At Total stations, a litre went for 1,080; Mobil, 1,025; and Adova Petroleum(AP), N1,030. Independent marketers sold a litre for N1,120.
Cost per litre at some filling stations that operated for business in Lagos yesterday also varied. Mobil stations sold at N2 lower than the N998 fixed three days ago by NNPCL as new cost. At Conoil, it was N1,050 and N1,090 in BOVAS, an independent dealer.
In Rivers, operators of NNPCL stations sold the product for N1,030 per litre; Mobil, N 1,025; Total, N1,080 and AP, N1,110. A few other independent marketers sold theirs for N1,120 per litre.
Despite the increase in cost, most filling stations, especially in Lagos, had their gates shut to motorists and other users of petrol.
The few that opened for business had long queues, a development that resulted in boom for black market operators who sold a litre for between N1,250 and N1,300.
Motorists and passengers were seen by our correspondents in the FCT, Lagos and Port Harcourt lamenting the impact of the hike on them.
They appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by compelling the NNPCL and Dangote Refinery to reduce the cost of the “very critically essential product.”
