It might not be business as
usual for petroleum marketers in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, as Petroleum and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) is set to commence strict sanction this week on products marketers who indulge in sabotage and diversion of products meant for the territory to other areas for more profit.
An official of PPMC revealed that the step was taken to check the prolonged scarcity of petroleum products in the areas in spite of the fact that adequate allocation were made for the area the scarcity had remained.
The source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that a total of 111 trucks was released into Abuja recently, but unfortunately, only few filling stations sold over the weekend.
The Tide gathered that PPMC is worried that instead of selling products to motorists, the marketers diverted the products to Suleja and Kaduna where they sell the products at prices higher than the official N87.00 per litre, thereby making more profit.
“We released a total of 111 trucks into Abuja on Thursday. I don’t believe that all could have been sold Saturday to warrant the long queue we had on Saturday in Abuja.”
“What we are suspecting is that most of the volume have been diverted outside Abuja because if one takes a drive on Suleja/Kaduna road, you will see that all the stations along the road are selling despite the fact that we didn’t supply them.
“One hundred and eleven trucks can refuel a total of 73,260 vehicles at the rate of 50 litres per vehicle. This week alone, we have dispatched 386 trucks inside Abuja alone and that can refuel 254,760 vehicles per vehicle. This is sabotage,” he said.
According to the official, PPMC may be forced to invite the security agencies to investigate the allegations in a bid to sanction erring marketers to serve as deterrent to others.
The Tide gathered that while products sell at the official price of N87.00 per litre in Abuja, in Suleja and Kaduna where business booms for black marketers, the price goes for N120.00 and above per litre.