Petrol price up third time in 60 days as crude price drops
LAGOS — The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, yesterday, adjusted the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, to N1,025 per litre, from N998 per litre, in Lagos and environs.
Similarly, in Abuja, the price of the product rose to N1,060 from N1,030, in what has become the third increase in the price of the product in two months.
The latest increase came as the price of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude dropped to $72 per barrel, from $75 per barrel, indicating a shortfall of 8.2 per cent against the $77.96 per barrel reference price of the 2024 budget.
In Lagos, filling stations immediately adjusted their prices to reflect the new rate, while motorists were seen rushing to some outlets yet to adjust prices to buy the product
NNPCL had earlier this month, hiked pump prices from N897 per litre to N1,030 per litre following the deregulation of petrol pricing by the Federal Government.
Checks around the central area of Abuja on Tuesday night showed that most major marketers which had opened during the day, shut their gates as they began the process of adjusting their metres. However, Ardova Plc station, independent marketers, located opposite NNPC Retail mega station continued to sell to motorists at the old price of N1,125 per litre.
Spokesman of the NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, could not be reached for comments last night but checks by Vanguard indicated that the price adjustment was based on market forces, following the deregulation of the downstream sector.
An industry source, who pleaded to be anonymous, said: “This is the third adjustment to be made in September and October 2024, based on deregulation.
‘’The policy enables price to be adjusted based on the forces of demand and supply. The weakness of the naira, currently standing at N1,664/$ may also be a factor.”
