Petrol may now sell at N170 per litre as ex-depot price rises to N155

Nigerians may need to brace up for a fresh regime of hike in petroleum prices across the country in the coming days.

According to Premium Times report, this is because the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) has adjusted the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, from N147.67 to N155.17.

A memo, seen by the online news medium and dated November 11, showed that the new price regime becomes effective on November 13, 2020.

The PPMC is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and currently imports almost all of Nigeria’s petrol.

The memo, signed by Ali Tijani of the PPMC, showed that the landing cost average for PMS has increased from N119 in September and October to N123 in November.

Similarly, the ex-coastal selling price for the month has also increased to N130 in November, from N125 in the previous months.

In the same vein, the ex-depot price without collection shot up from N138 in September and October to N142 in November.

The ex-depot price with collection, which ultimately influences pump price, shot up to N155.17.

The ex-depot price is the price at which the product is sold to marketers at the depots.

With a retailer margin of N6.19, the PPMC pegged the minimum pump price at N161 in November, from the N153 peg announced for September and October.

By implication, effective November 13, Nigerians may begin to buy fuel from filling stations at prices between N172 and N175, or higher.

In September, the pump price of petrol hit N161 per litre after the government increased the price at which it sells the product to marketers from N138.62 per litre to N147.67.

The development was met with criticisms and outrage among Nigerians as many lamented the bad economic conditions made worse by the price hike.

The government at the time increased the petrol price shortly after power distribution companies announced a hike in electricity tariffs.

Many Nigerians, struggling with the economic realities of COVID-19 disruption, considered the move insensitive and harsh.