Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN has lashed out at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL accusing it of illegally determining the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, for the Dangote Refinery.
He said it is illegal for NNPC to take such an action after deregulation.
Falana, who said this in a statement on Tuesday, added that the action of the NNPCL contravenes Section 205 of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
“On September 5, 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) stated that foreign exchange (forex) illiquidity had been a significant factor influencing the fluctuation in prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) governed by unrestrained market forces, as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
“The NNPCL was explaining the pump price of PMS imported into the country at the material time. Specifically, the Executive Vice President of Downstream NNPC Ltd Mr. Adedapo Segun, explained that Section 205 of the PIA, which established NNPC Ltd, stipulated that petroleum prices were determined by free market forces.
“But contrary to the well-publicised statement, the NNPCL has fixed the price of PMS produced by the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited. The action of the NNPCL is a violent contravention of section 205 of the PIA, which stipulates that the prices of petroleum products shall be determined by market forces.
“Furthermore, since the petrol sold by Dangote is not imported into the country but produced at the Lekki Economic Free Trade Zone, the NNPCL cannot justify the sale of petrol at N950 per litre without freight cost, lightering cost, jetty depot fees, storage fees, foreign exchange costs, NPA charges: NIMASA charges, Customs duties etc,” he said.
Falana’s outburst followed the commencement of PMS lifting by the NNPCL from the Dangote Refinery.
DAILY POST recalls that as soon as lifting commenced, NNPCL announced that the product would sell for N950 per litre in Lagos State and its environs, and above N1,000 per litre in states such as Borno.
Reacting, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, on Monday, criticised NNPCL, saying it was not right for petrol lifted from the Dangote Refinery to cost higher than imported ones.