Diezani Alison-Madueke: Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum.

Independent petroleum marketers in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital in the northern part of Nigeria as well as areas around the state capital have continued to sell the premium motor spirit, better called petrol, above the official pump price.

This action by the marketers negates the Federal Government’s reduction of the pump price from N97 to N87 per litre which was announced on Sunday.

Surprisingly however, some of these marketers are not even selling at the old price, but far beyond at N106 per litre, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation’s mega station in Birnin Kebbi and other locations were closed at the time of this report with the managements declining to comment.

Aliyu Isah, a commercial driver, said he was aware of the reduction, but wondered why the filling stations are yet to comply.

“The adherence to the reduction in pump price will reduce the recent increase in prices of goods and services,”

He urged petroleum marketers and distributors to comply with the reduction in price as directed by the Federal Government.

When contacted, the North-West Zonal National Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMA), Alhaji Muhammad Jega, described the reduction as a welcome development.

He urged the general public to exercise patience as many marketers were still selling the old stock.