By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has directed members to, from today compile names of marketers hoarding Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol, or selling above official depot price.

Recall that the Union had Saturday given marketers 24 hours to revert to the official depots price petrol or risk unpleasant consequences, claiming unscrupulous marketers were selling PMS from the depots at prices above the official rate aimed at forcing illegal increases in the pump price and compound the woes of the masses in the midst of fuel scarcity

Speaking with Vanguard, President of NUPENG, Prince Williams Akporeha, said “as a follow-up to the 24 hours ultimatum to the marketers, the Union has directed members to from today start compiling names of marketers who are hoarding petrol or selling PMS from the depots at price above the official rate for sanction.”

On what is the nature of the sanction, he said “We have to keep that to our chest until the appropriate time.”

NUPENG in a statement on Saturday issuing 24 hours ultimatum to marketers through its President and General Secretary, Prince William Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, respectively, among others, said “Our attention and empathy have been drawn to the harrowing experiences and pains of the general public due to the exploitative and unscrupulous activities and tendencies of Petroleum Products Marketers who taking advantage of the seeming gaps and teething challenges in the implementation of Petroleum industry Act to enrich themselves at the expense of the Country and the people.

“It’s an undeniable fact that the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, is still under subsidy regime, and we find it disheartening and worrisome that these unscrupulous Marketers are selling PMS from the depots at prices far above the official rate.

“We are giving these Marketers twenty-four (24) hours with effect from midnight of Sunday, 27th February 2022 to revert to official rate or we shall name and shame them as public enemies aside from other sanctions.

It is also disturbing that even though AGO and DPK are deregulated, there must be some measures of checks and control over the prices otherwise the entire productive activities will be grounded.

“We have it on good authority that it’s one Marketer that determines and fixes prices of these products for other Marketers to adopt leaving all consumers (domestic and industrial) at their mercy.

“This unsavoury situation is evidently clear from the cries of the airline’s Operators, road transport Operators, factories Owners and private homes and offices. The Union cannot continue to watch as some cabals keep on exploiting the people and the nation.

“We implore the general public to bear with us in whatever actions we deemed necessary against these exploiters.

“Painfully, we noticed the helplessness of the NNPC in this in view of the implementation of the Act and also noted that these Marketers are taking advantage of the newness of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority to rip off Nigerians.

“The nation and the people are bleeding and in the absence of any decisive institutional intervention, NUPENG has decided to once again step up in the defense of the people, the nation and the industry.

“We are also by this press release directing all our officials in all our zones to start compiling lists of petrol stations that are in habit of hoarding products during the day and selling at nights at exorbitant rates for possible sanctions. These also include Petroleum Products depots that may want to be hoarding products because of our decision on this matter.”

Vanguard News