Business
NLC Accuses Dangote And Marketers Of Inflating Fuel Prices
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised serious concerns, accusing Dangote Group and oil marketers of manipulating Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) prices to profit at the expense of Nigerians.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday following the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Friday.
In the statement, the NLC mentioned the current retail prices of petrol—ranging from N1,060 to N1,200 per litre—which they argue are far above the actual market value.
According to the union, this price disparity is a strong indication of inflated costs and excessive profit margins within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with these practices unfairly burdening consumers.
The NLC expresses concerns that key players in the industry might be colluding to control petrol prices, making it harder for Nigerians to afford basic fuel needs.
They noted that despite the supposed liberalization of the market, prices remain significantly high.
This led the NLC to call on the Nigerian government to urgently bring the Port Harcourt refinery and other state-owned refineries into operation to introduce more competition and relieve the grip that private players currently hold on fuel pricing.
During the NEC meeting, union leaders voiced their dissatisfaction, accusing “big players” in the industry of maintaining high prices through cost padding and inflated profit margins.
This alleged profiteering, according to the NLC, is adding to the economic strain on Nigerians, with workers and ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of the artificially high fuel prices.
The NLC also pointed out that this might be the reason why public refineries, including those in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, are yet to return to full operation, despite their potential to ease fuel prices in the domestic market.
In recent days, a disagreement between Dangote Refinery and petroleum marketers has come into the spotlight, reflecting deeper issues in the sector.
Dangote Group announced that their petrol is available at ex-depot prices between N960 and N990 per litre, yet other marketers claim that imported fuel is still cheaper than what Dangote supplies.
Marketers have insisted that their imported petrol remains more affordable, countering Dangote’s claims.
In turn, Dangote Refinery has suggested that some marketers may be importing lower-quality, cheaper petrol, which the marketers have denied.
Adding to the discussion, recent figures from the Major Energies Marketers Association indicate that the landing cost for imported petrol currently stands at N971 per litre.
The NLC is pushing for a fairer pricing structure, stating that this will only be achieved by breaking the market’s current monopolistic structure.
They emphasized that reopening government-owned refineries is key to balancing market forces and potentially driving down fuel prices.
It has been reported that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), prepares to look into the recent crash of the popular investment platform, CBEX.
It can be recalled that investment platform, CBEX, recently crashed and caused worry for many users. The public to social media to lament about the crash of the platform and cries out due to their losses.
Popular Nigerian blogger, Innocent Tino shares that he will partner with EFCC for a joint investigation of the downfall of CBEX. It was also shared that a total of #1.3 trillion funds have been lost due to the crash.
The Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has shed light on why Nigerians are still paying high prices for petrol, even though global crude oil prices have dropped sharply.
According to CORAN, the main reasons behind the high cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) include the recent halt of the Naira-for-crude arrangement, the activities of profit-driven middlemen, and the rising exchange rate of the dollar.
Speaking on the matter, CORAN’s spokesperson, Eche Idoko, pointed out that these factors have made it difficult for Nigerians to enjoy any real relief at the pump. Crude oil prices recently dropped to around $64 per barrel for Brent and roughly $59.7 for WTI. This decline followed a new round of tariffs and a surprise production cut announcement by OPEC+.
Despite the global price drop, local fuel prices in Nigeria continue to rise. Idoko explained that middlemen are playing a big role in keeping prices up and preventing local refining from thriving. He also mentioned that the cost of importing refined products, logistics, and foreign exchange challenges all add up to push petrol prices even higher.
At the moment, petrol prices in Nigeria range from N900 to N975 per litre depending on the area. This increase came shortly after several major players in the industry, including partners of the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), raised their pump prices.
MRS filling stations, a partner of Dangote Refinery, have raised petrol prices to N930 per litre in Lagos and N950 per litre in Abuja.
On Saturday, the MRS station along Kubwa Expressway in Abuja was already selling at the new rate, marking an increase of N70 to N80 per litre from the previous prices of N860 and N880.
A motorist in Abuja reacted to the price hike, saying it was expected after Dangote Refinery announced that it had stopped selling petrol in Naira.
The refinery had revealed on March 19 that it would no longer conduct petrol sales in local currency, a move that has now led to adjustments in pump prices across several stations.
Other filling stations in Abuja have also increased their rates. Empire Filling Station in Gwarimpa, for instance, raised its price to N975 per litre from N945.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) maintained its pump price at N880 per litre in Abuja as of Saturday evening.
Ice Prince Boasts Rap Skills, Credits M.I Abaga as His Mentor: “I Was Trained by the Best”
“Chris Was Dancing to My Song!” – Davido Recalls First Time Speaking with Chris Brown
Portable Laments Police Hunt After Burna Boy’s Gift: “This Don Dey Too Much”
-
News9 hours agoZelenskyy Accuses China of Helping Russia with Drone Technology and Military Support
-
Entertainment9 hours agoCarlos Santana Rushed to Hospital Before His Texas Show Due to Dehydration
-
Entertainment8 hours agoSpyro Demands Blog Remove False Post or Face Consequences
-
Sport8 hours agoKaragounis Says He Would Love to See Ronaldo Play for Panathinaikos After Leaving Al-Nassr
-
Sport9 hours agoRonaldo Will Miss Al Nassr Game as Coach Gives Him Rest for Champions League
-
Sport9 hours agoOsimhen Shines with a Goal and Assist in Galatasaray’s 5-1 Win to Reach Turkish Cup Final
-
Sport8 hours ago“When Rodrygo Is Not Well Real Madrid Struggles” – Cafu Says
-
Entertainment5 hours agoSophia Momodu Hails Priscilla Ojo & Juma Jux’s Union as “Wedding of the Year 2025”