DAILY TRUST
Despite the rollout of premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol from the Dangote Refinery on Sunday, Nigerians have expressed disappointment over the high price of fuel.
They said their hope on the refinery for a reduced fuel price after recent increment of pump price was dashed with the price sold to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Daily Trust reports that the first set of PMS from Dangote refinery hit the market on Sunday as promised by the federal government.
By implication, the price of Dangote PMS is over N100 costlier than the existing market price from NNPC retail stations and other major stations.
Nigerians express disappointment
Many Nigerians who spoke with Daily Trust expressed their concerns over the pricing of petrol from Dangote refinery.
A survey conducted by Daily Trust also indicated that 76 per cent of Nigerians are disappointed over the price of Dangote fuel.
Israel Ibok, a Lagos resident, said his expectation of a reduced fuel price from Dangote has been dashed, wondering why it is so when Dangote refinery sources its crude from Nigeria.
“We thought that the price of petrol would go down and be a bit moderate when Dangote starts selling,” he said.
However, he asserted that Dangote refinery being a private-owned business could not be driven by emotional sentiments, rather on profit-making, urging the federal government to support with incentives that may reduce the cost of production.
“But we know the Dangote refinery was set up for business, so I did not expect much difference because it is a private business. It’s just God that can help us because the masses are suffering but I believe the federal government can come into this and put reforms in place, maybe subside to Dangote so that the PMS price and other crude oil by products should not be sold at a higher rate.
“We should not buy fuel at the same price as other countries, which do not have crude oil and are buying. Ours should be a bit cheaper because this is where the production is taking place,” he added.
Paul Oyewusi exonerated Dangote refinery for the increase in the price of fuel, citing the country’s unstable economy as a dominant force to determine price.
Kaduna
In Kaduna, Adamu Hassan, a local guard expressed disappointment over the price announced by NNPCL, saying they just don’t want Nigerians to benefit from the local refinery belonging to Dangote.
He questioned why NNPCL cannot allow the Dangote refinery to determine the price of its products and why they insist on buying from the private company.
Another Kaduna resident, Ibrahima Yakubu, described the situation as hope in vain, saying Nigerians, and he in particular, are disappointed with NNPCL and their cartel in the industry, which is working hard to ensure that Nigerians do not enjoy the Dangote refinery fuel.
“Honestly, I’m disappointed because we were all hoping that when Dangote starts selling, fuel prices and foodstuff prices would reduce. But it seems that NNPCL is not happy with the Dangote company,” he said.
Benue
In Benue State, residents expressed disappointment with the skyrocketing increase of premium motor spirit (PMS), describing the situation as unbearable.
Angel Torkuma, a resident of Makurdi, said the sufferings of Nigerians had reached its crescendo in recent times with the uncontrolled hike in petrol price with its attendant effect on food items at various markets in the state.
“I don’t want to believe we have a government in this nation watching the suffering of Nigerians. Nigerians don’t deserve this and certainly not what we voted for in the 2023 general election. It’s still unbelievable that we are now buying fuel for between N1200 and N1400 per litre here in Makurdi.
“Nobody is offering us any sensible explanation. And as if we are being punished for asking the government during the August protest to ameliorate the sufferings of people, the price of fuel had doubled ever since then,” she said.
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