A former Chairman of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Tunji Oyebanji has cautioned marketers to desist from speculating the pump price of petroleum before they are imported.
Oyetunji issued the warning on Friday in an interview with Newsmen in Lagos on Friday.
His statement is coming on the heels of comments by the National Controller Operations, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Mike Osatuyi, that the pump price of petrol may soar up to N700 per litre.
Osatuyi had projected that prices could rise above N700 per litre in the North once independent marketers start importing the products in July.
However, while countering the claim, Oyebanji said no marketer could accurately speculate the fuel pump price until the importation of the product starts.
“Not until you order a cargo, and know the exchange rates before you can predict the price.
”Those projecting the price are just saying this on a sensational basis to get marketers excited.
”I do not think anybody needs to do that,” he said.
Oyebanji added that the price could also be reduced, depending on the exchange rate.
Oyebanji, also the Managing Director, 11 Plc, said: “It depends on the exchange rate. If those factors are changing, prices of those products will also change.
“As you know, at a time, diesel went up significantly at above N800 per litre, but now it has come down to within N600 to N620 per litre.
“So, once you are in a deregulated environment, that is how it is, especially when you are importing the product.
“I can not project price of petrol for now until we import the product.”
According to Oyebanji, at some point, the projection is speculation.
”I do not think anybody needs to do that.
“If there’s a certainty; if you are observing the exchange rates, you will see that it is getting worse. if the price at the international market is also going up, then, you see how those things are being affected and that is how the price comes in.
“We can not mitigate prices, people will have to adjust their spending accordingly and priotise their choice,” he added.
Oyebanji, however, added that the price could also be reduced, depending on the exchange rate.
“The bottom line is that there will be an adjustment in price. Yes, it may go up and can also drop, depending on the exchange rate.
“But the good thing is that products will be everywhere. if people see that yours is more expensive than those of the filling stations around them, they will not patronise you. Then, you will be forced to bring down prices so that customers can come and buy.
“There will be healthy competition and which is good for the market,” he said.
Meanwhile, Osatuyi said that fuel being sold by marketers such as DAPPMAN, IPMAN and MOMAN are old stock.
He added, “Nobody has imported new products from the new foreign exchange regime and the new deregulation. Marketers are just planning to import, so everybody is in a transition pricing to the new regime.”
