Motorists have dumped Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, filling stations and others selling petrol at higher prices.
Filling station attendants disclosed this to DAILY POST on Monday.
According to an attendant at an NNPCL filling station in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity, patronage by motorists dropped drastically on Monday afternoon due to the higher petrol price.
The development comes as MRS, AA Rano, Sharon and other filling stations in Abuja reduced their petrol prices.
DAILY POST reports that MRS reduced its petrol price by N50 to N1,210 per litre from N1,260 per litre in Abuja and its environs. This marks the second reduction in less than two weeks.
Aside from MRS filling stations, AA Rano, Sharon and others also reduced their fuel prices by N25 per litre.
The new price template was implemented along the Kubwa Expressway, Abuja, and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory on Monday.
The reduction in petrol prices by MRS and other Nigerian filling stations is not unconnected to Dangote Refinery’s latest petrol price cut to N1,165 per litre.
DAILY POST reports that while the petrol price reduction spree persists among MRS and other filling stations, NNPCL retail outlets and others have failed to reduce their fuel prices, which remained between N1,299 and N1,310 per litre.
This was the case at NNPCL filling stations in Gwarinpa, Wuse Zones 4 and 6, other parts of Abuja and its environs as of the time of filing this report.
Speaking on the development, a filling station attendant at an NNPCL outlet complained that motorists had avoided their station because of the higher petrol price.
“I have hardly sold petrol to four or 10 persons since today. Our customers are complaining about the high fuel price.
“I hope the petrol price will reduce from tomorrow (Tuesday),” the filling station attendant who preferred anonymity told DAILY POST.
Two other filling station attendants at Shema and Emedab also echoed similar sentiments about low patronage on Monday due to the higher petrol price.
NNPCL spokesperson, Andy Odeh did not respond to DAILY POST inquiry at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, our correspondent sighted Dangote Refinery trucks at several retail outlets in Abuja.
However, the spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu, told DAILY POST that NNPCL and other members might not have received or stocked products from Dangote Refinery.
The development has further raised serious concerns within the country’s downstream oil and gas sector.
DAILY POST reports that petrol depot owners had also reduced their fuel prices to at least N1,168 per litre.
Crude oil prices on Monday stood at about $87 and $82 per barrel for Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate, WTI, respectively.
DAILY POST reports that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, had begun consultations with stakeholders on anti-competitive pricing of petroleum products.
Fuel price reduction: Nigerians dump NNPCL, other filling stations