Amidst the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting various parts of the country, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Rivers State has assured residents of Port Harcourt and its environs that they are unlikely to experience shortages.
According to IPMAN Rivers State Public Relations Officer, Agbakwuo Uzochukwu, there is currently sufficient fuel stock in the area, alleviating concerns of long queues resurfacing at filling stations.
Uzochukwu attributed the scarcity and price hikes witnessed in some regions to the closure of government-regulated depots, which restrict access for independent petroleum marketers. This closure forces marketers to rely on private depots where prices are subject to fluctuations.
He cautioned that while Rivers State currently enjoys stable fuel supply and relatively lower prices compared to other states, this situation could change if other states also turn to private depots in the state for fuel supplies.
Despite a slight increase in pump prices observed in Port Harcourt, with fuel now ranging between N690-N700 per litre compared to N650-N690 last week, there is no scarcity of the product in the city.
However, IPMAN warned of possible further price hikes due to continued reliance on private depots, leading to fluctuations in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Source: Channelstv
