Chinedu Anyaso, chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria, Enugu zone, says the price increase in petroleum products in the country is due to a hike at the source.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Anyaso, who is in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States, said the rise in the pump price was neither arbitrary nor the fault of marketers.

“The price of PMS has increased, and this is because Dangote, which is our major supplier, added about N110 to every litre. So, the hike is not artificial, it is not arbitrary, it is a direct reflection of the reality we are facing,” he said.

Mr Anyaso said the situation could get worse because of the ongoing war in the Middle East.

He said the war would trigger a shortage of crude oil and lead to higher prices.

“Prices of petroleum products will definitely go higher if the war in the Gulf continues because it will have a negative impact on production and the price of crude,” he said.

Petrol now sells for between N950 and N1,000 per litre in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu. Previously, the pump price was between N840 and N850 per litre until the last week of February.

Meanwhile, queues have started to form at some outlets in Awka, the Anambra capital, as a sign of pressure on supply.

Motorists, civil servants, and traders have expressed concern over the incessant increase in fuel prices.

Major fuel retailers in the country had on Tuesday adjusted their pump prices between N930 and N970 per litre. The hike follows a N100 upward review in the ex-depot price by Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals.

In Abakaliki on Wednesday, NNPC Retail outlets, Rainoil and other stations raised their pump price from N870 per litre to N970. The fuel increase was occasioned by the current crisis in Iran.

John Okoh, a trader in food items, decried the fuel price hike and called for government intervention.

Eunice Nwankwo, a civil servant, said it was worrisome as the petroleum industry has continued to cause hardship on citizens. Peter Onu, a motorist, said the situation was shocking, stressing that only Nigerians could change Nigeria.

In Enugu, all filling stations have adjusted their pumping machines to align with the new price regime.

In parts of the state, checks showed that petrol prices had moved from N780 to N820 to N950 and N980 per litre in the state capital.

Petrol prices in semi-urban centres varied depending on the independent marketers involved.

According to checks, a litre of petrol costs N1000 at Obollo Afor, Orba and Enugu Ezike in Udenu and Igboeze North LGAs. Most of the transporters interviewed said they were still monitoring the situation before deciding whether to hike their fares.

A commercial driver, Chinedu Odo, said in an interview that transport fares would increase over time.

Another commercial tricycle operator, Innocent Eze, said that many of their members had yet to feel the impact of the increase. According to him, many of the operators were unaware of the increase.

An independent marketer, Emeka Ugwuagbo, cited the recent announcement by the Dangote Group that it had adjusted the petrol depot price from N774.00 to N884 per litre.

(NAN)