Residents of border communities between Nigeria and the Benin Republic in Ogun State have expressed concern over the steep price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, which has surged to as much as N2,000 per litre in some regions.
This sharp increase in fuel prices is severely disrupting daily life in areas like Idiroko, Ijofin, Agosasa, Ipokia, Iwoye Ketu, Tube, Oniro, Araromi Ofo, Ilate, Ohunbo, Agada, Maahun, and Tungeji, across Ipokia and Imeko Afon Local Government Areas, as residents struggle with the financial burden.
Investigations by Saturday PUNCH revealed that only four petrol stations—Olafems Oil, Mobil Fueling Station, Oppresso Oil and Gas, and Somolab Fueling Station—are officially authorized by the Federal Government to sell petrol.
While these authorized stations sell fuel at prices ranging from N1,200 to N1,300 per litre, black market vendors are selling it at prices between N1,500 and N2,000 per litre.
A large number of residents rely primarily on black market fuel for their daily needs and business operations.
Residents interviewed by our correspondent alleged that official filling stations mostly sell to smugglers, who then profit by reselling the fuel in Benin Republic.
Ismael Balogun, a community leader in Ipokia, expressed concern to Saturday PUNCH, noting that the steep fuel prices have severely hampered economic activities in border regions.
“The few authorised petrol stations hardly sell fuel to the people. They prefer to sell to smugglers to buy in large quantities and resell to the Benin Republic.
“The situation has brought untold hardship to the people. Transportation cost is unbearable and upon that, operatives of the Nigeria customs service keep harassing and intimidating our people”, Balogun said.
Additionally, the Chairman of the Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum, Imoleayo Mawutin, expressed concern that having only four petrol stations was far from sufficient to meet the needs of a population exceeding 350,000 people.
He urged the government to remove the restriction on petrol sales and permit other filling stations to distribute fuel.
“Every week, we have a total supply of 180,000 litres of PMS in our local government but it is all going down the drain to the Benin Republic, PMS racketeers and black marketers.
“Our people now have to go as far as over 30km to Owode township, in another local government to buy PMS which customs will still have to harass and treat them badly while they confiscate the products meant for domestic consumption.
“These inhumane acts had forced most of our hospitals, Small and Medium Enterprises and farmers out of operations and the few left with no other option have to result to buying of PMS from black marketers and hoarders at an unreasonable price ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 Naira per litre”, Mawutin said.
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When reached for comment, Hammed Oloyede, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Customs Command, refuted claims that customs officers were intimidating or harassing residents.
He urged residents to direct their complaints to the proper authorities.
The PUNCH
