In spite of the renewed effort of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Rivers State petroleum Products Monitoring Task Force, against sharp practices by the petroleum marketers, Price of the Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, is still above the regulated price of N86.50 per litre.
Our Correspondent who monitored some filling stations in the state capital said, petrol sells between N110.00 and N120 per litre.
A motorist, Andy Wakama, told the Tide that he was surprised that DPR and the state task force on Petroleum claimed to be working effectively yet virtually all stations in the state, especially Port Harcourt, the State capital, still sell far above N86.50.
Christiana Udoh, a lady taxi driver said, “I suspect that both DPR and the state task force are deceiving the people because, just go to any filling station now and you will find out that it is an open secret that Petrol sells above N86.50.
“I think the regulators are compromising with the marketer and, funny enough, they tell us different things”.
Apart from selling above pump price, the problem of diversion is common as marketers load products meant for some stations and change destinations to areas where they sell the product at higher prices.
The Controller of operations of DPR in Port Harcourt, Mrs Chioma Njoku, confirmed this, saying a marketer was intercepted diverting products meant for a filling station in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The DPR boss said so far, the zonal office has sealed about 33 filling stations for their involvement in unwholesome practices.
However, some marketers had complained that they bought the product above depot prices and would run at loss if they sell at the government approved price of N86.50 per litre.

Chris Oluoh