Pankshin (Plateau) Feb. 24, 2015 (NAN) Motorists and youths in Pankshin, Plateau, on Tuesday expressed dismay over the sudden rise in the pump price of petrol from the official N87 to N90 per litre.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that virtually all the petrol filling stations operating in the area, except the NNPC Mega Station, were selling to motorists at N90 per litre.

Some of the stations visited and found selling at high price included Ku’ul-Pam Oil & Gas Nig. Ltd, Ekere Petroleum Ltd, Hyco Petroleum Nig. Ltd and Eche-pet Nig. Ltd.

Pankshin (Plateau) Feb. 24, 2015 (NAN) Motorists and youths in Pankshin, Plateau, on Tuesday expressed dismay over the sudden rise in the pump price of petrol from the official N87 to N90 per litre.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that virtually all the petrol filling stations operating in the area, except the NNPC Mega Station, were selling to motorists at N90 per litre.

Some of the stations visited and found selling at high price included Ku’ul-Pam Oil & Gas Nig. Ltd, Ekere Petroleum Ltd, Hyco Petroleum Nig. Ltd and Eche-pet Nig. Ltd.

Others are Monak Oil Nigeria Ltd, Chigwong Nig. Ltd, Edipet Petroleum Nig. Ltd and Emecopet Investment Company Ltd.

One of the attendants, simply called Joyce, told NAN that the change was effected on Tuesday and was sequel to a short supply of the commodity to the area.

”I was taken aback this morning when I visited the filling stations to buy some fuel for my car only to discover that the pump price is no more N87 but N90 per litre, ” a taxi driver, Mr Sunday Nneji, said.

Nneji said the sudden rise was ”uncalled for” and ”a cheat” since there was no official announcement to that effect.

Another commuter, Mr Benjamin Chandi, blamed the increase on the government, which he accused of not being serious in enforcing the law on petroleum marketers.

Also Mr Filchak Goar, an official of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Pankshin Chapter, said the change in pump price was ”sheer extortion” of innocent public by fuel station operators.

Goar called on the authorities to rise to the challenge and stop the filling station operators from the act.

Contacted, Mr Shehu Yusuf, Head of Retail, Outlet and Marketing, Plateau Directorate of Petroleum Resource Office, expressed surprise and worry over the situation.

”I am surprised to hear this new development; it is not up to two weeks that we found 30 filling stations culpable of such act in the state and fined them N100, 000.

”The pump price for PMS still remains N87 and anything contrary to that is criminal and perpetrators would be traced to face the wrath of the law, ” Yusuf said.

The DPR officer pledged to conduct routine checks on some of the stations, to sanction the erring operators.(NAN)
TYC/IA

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Motorists, youths condemn sudden rise in petrol pump price in Pankshin