By Matthew Denis
The Department of Petroleum Resources has called on motorists not to engage in panic buying of fuel, saying there is no hike in price of petroleum product in sight.
The Operation Controller of DPR, Kwara State, Mr. Philip Salvation made the call during a telephone chat with Pilot Business at the weekend.
This is coming on the backdrop of the recent hike in the price of diesel from N160 to N270 per litre.
Salvation noted that there is availability of petroleum products, stressing that panic buying could lead to artificial scarcity.
He said: “There is deregulation in the energy sector already, so the prices of the petrol, diesel and kerosene respectively are being determined by the forces of demand and supply.
“Ours is to curb sharp practices by marketers such as adjustment of pump, adulterated products, black marketing among others,” he explained.
The Controller added that the DPR is working in collaboration with other government agencies to ensure that the supply of petroleum products is not disrupted during the forthcoming Yuletide festivity.
“We just had a meeting with government agencies like Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Authority, (PPPRA) among others to ensure steady supply of fuel.
“Last week, 45 trucks of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were supplied to Ilorin to ensure there is availability within the state and its environs.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Chairman, Union of Tippers and Quarry Employers of Nigeria, Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Yusuf has called on government to intervene in the rising cost of diesel, which has posed as challenge to activities of members.
He said “Before the price of diesel was N160 per litre but now we are buying it at N270 per litre and this development is affecting our businesses.”
