By Enefiok Imoh
The Federal Government’s directive that petrol should be sold at a discount of N66 per litre less than the standard pump price in all Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets has left many residents in Uyo in a cloud of uncertainty over what price they are actually supposed to pay.
An investigation by WatchmanPost shows that many motorists and buyers are yet to fully understand what the N66 reduction in those outlets translates into.
Findings further reveal that not all fuel stations in Uyo bearing NNPCL insignia actually receive fuel supplies from the company—which still operates much like a government corporation—making it difficult for them to be universally compelled to implement the price cut.
The Federal Government had stated that the directive, scheduled to last for 30 days in the first instance beginning 1st October, was aimed at easing the harsh effects of the fuel subsidy removal on citizens.
However, our findings on Tuesday, October 13, showed that at the NNPC mega station in Ekit Itam II, near the Ibom Specialty Hospital, petrol was sold at N1,360 per litre. An attendant told this medium that they procured the product via a downloaded NNPCL application for N1,360 per litre and sold it to customers at the same price with no profit margin.
He explained that prior to the federal directive, the station had been running a one-week promotional discount of N66 to mark the nation’s 66th independence anniversary.
At the Ikot Ekpene Road station, the product was also sold at N1,360 per litre, while a nearby private station retailed it at N1,370. When questioned about the N66 discount, the attendant at Ikot Ekpene Road replied that it was strictly an independence promo that had already expired.
The product was similarly sold at N1,360 per litre at the Oron Road by Ita Street NNPCL outlet, as well as its counterpart in Itiam along Oron Road.
Things were, however, different at the Abak Road and Atiku Abubakar Road stations, which dispensed the product above the standard rate.
While fuel went for N1,390 per litre at the Abak Road station, it was sold for N1,380 at the NNPC outlet along Atiku Abubakar Street.
Asked why prices were higher, an attendant at the Abak Road station explained that the facility was formerly owned by Fonex before being acquired by the NNPCL.
She noted that despite the change in ownership, the NNPCL is yet to supply products to the station, forcing management to source fuel independently from the Dangote Refinery.
She added that they were not bound by NNPCL directives and operated to make a profit rather than to please customers or the corporation, claiming the NNPCL has no active retail outlets of its own to justify such orders.
In the same vein, an attendant at the Atiku Abubakar station—formerly owned by Trans Sossa Limited—stated that they sold fuel at N1,380 per litre because they did not receive supplies from the NNPC.
Across all stations visited, no station managers were available for comment, and contrary to expectations, there were no long queues. While financial and economic analysts in the state had predicted heavy gridlock and product scarcity at NNPCL outlets, neither scenario played out.
Ultimately, it remains unclear whether the general N1,360 per litre price represents the touted N66 discount introduced by the Tinubu administration, especially since it is not honoured by at least two of the NNPCL-branded stations visited.
What remains certain, however, is that the official NNPCL retail discount of ₦66 per litre applies exclusively to app users and runs until 31st October.
Meanwhile, WatchmanPost can report that transport fares across the metropolis remain unaffected by the development.
