Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a prominent member of the APC in Osun State on Sunday, urged President Bola Tinubu to step in and mediate the current diesel pricing negotiations between the Dangote Refinery’s management and traders.
There should be a significant difference between the pump price of imported diesel and that of diesel from a refinery in Nigeria, according to Oyintiloye, who added that the refinery’s diesel pump price of N1,225 was high for a product coming from an indigenous enterprise.
The former member for the Obokun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, speaking to reporters in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, stated that the President’s intervention should result in a review of the current pump price of diesel coming from the refinery being lowered.
Additionally, Oyintiloye asked Tinubu to make sure that Nigerians’ interests are upheld during the negotiation process.
In a similar vein, oil marketers have demanded that the price of diesel at the pump be reduced to between N700 and N850 a litre, with operators scheduled to meet with refinery managers a week from now.
According to the APC chieftain, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria’s information that diesel was being imported at a rate of N1,250 per litre as a result of the naira’s appreciation against the dollar was a clue that the President would need to act quickly to fix the price of the product coming from the Dangote Refinery.
The statement read partly, “There is no doubt that Nigerians are happy with the commencement of the operation of the Dangote Refinery. We commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the project. It is a huge one for the benefit of our economy.
“That the refinery has started releasing petroleum products to the market is a thing of joy for all Nigerians and a sign of good things to come. It is what we are all looking forward to, but for it to have a positive impact on our economy, we appeal to the President to intervene in fixing the price of the products coming from the refinery.
“What will be the justification that a product coming from Lagos is having the same cost as the one imported from another continent? Nigerians are sensitive, they will ask questions. The President must intervene and ensure that Nigerians are protected.”
The former lawmaker noted that “since the product is coming from an indigenous refinery, expenses on logistics in the area of importation, clearing, and other activities associated with bringing products into the country will be very minimal.”
With the assurance that other local refineries will soon be reopened and petroleum products would become more affordable, Oyintiloye appealed for a reduction in the price of diesel.
