Petroleum marketers have said that petrol prices at the pump could rise to at least N930 per litre across the country. The suggestion follows another increase in the ex-depot price of petroleum products by private depots.
Companies like Pinnacle, AIPEC, Rainoil Lagos, and WOSBAB reported this latest price adjustment.
BusinessDay reports that the ex-depot price of petrol stood at an average of N870 per litre on Monday, an increment of more than N20 in one week.
Jide Pratt, Chief Operating Officer of AIONA, commented on the potential retail prices, stating: “For premium motor spirit (PMS), it is about N10 to N20 as some sell N880 for probably old stock
“Ideally, another N25 added to these prices will be the pump price.” Zarma Mustapha, Deputy President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), highlighted the regional variations in costs involved in distributing petroleum products. He explained: “You have additional costs to factor into your margin, which vary depending on your location. For instance, in Abuja, the transportation cost per litre is approximately N45. If you purchase at N870 and add N45 for transport, the landing cost in Abuja becomes N915. Adding a margin of N15 to N20 brings the final price to around N930 to N935. That’s essentially how the pricing dynamics work.”
The impending price hike comes amidst ongoing negotiations between NNPC and the Dangote Refinery regarding the extension of their naira-for-crude sales agreement, set to expire this month. Since October 2024, this arrangement has facilitated the sale of approximately 40 million litres of crude in naira, with Dangote Refinery subsequently selling petrol and diesel domestically in the local currency. Billy Gillis-Harry, National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has advocated for the continuation of this arrangement, emphasising its positive impact on petrol prices and national inflation.
