The complex interplay between the demand for petroleum products, especially kerosene and their availability to consumers has remained a problem in the country manifesting itself in scarcity, high price and adulteration which often result in explosion and death of the consumers.?
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The price of kerosene has continued to be on the increase across the country. And because of the importance of the product the trend makes running of homes difficult.
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A recent survey by LEADERSHIP showed that the price of a litre of kerosene is between N150 and N160, depending on the location and fuel station, just as the product sells currently for N170 at the black market.
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It was also observed that apart from NNPC mega stations located in Falomo and Oregun and few MRS filling stations in Lagos, other petrol stations monitored by our correspondent, especially those belonging to the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN),?? displayed a ‘No Kerosene for Sale,” sign post in an effort? to hoard the product.
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At Oando petrol stations in Ogba and Ogunnusi road, and Ajuwon area of Ogun State where the consumers went to buy the product , the attendants were given a directive to suspend sale of the product to people that queued to buy the product.
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Asked by our correspondent why the price had gone up, an attendant? replied: “Stop asking these questions. The time you stand here asking question would have been enough for you to buy your own and go home. By tomorrow the price will be higher.”
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When our correspondent visited Total and Mobil filling stations located? at Kudirat Abiola way in Ikeja,? the stations were not selling the? product.
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So many fuel stations managed by independent marketers where people used to buy the product before the new scarcity,? appeared to have stopped? the sale of? the? product.
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A customer at one of the stations lamented : “We thought this problem of kerosene scarcity and high price were over. Apart from these filling stations in the remote part of the State, other stations at Ikeja area do not have the product. I came all the way from Agidingbi to buy kerosene here for N150 per litre.
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Another resident told our correspondent that some of the frequent buyers the? kerosene attendants sell the products to, were those that offer gratification in the stations, only to resell the product in small quantity to consumers at the black market.
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Managers of some filling stations, including Oando, Mobil, Texaco, Conoil and African Petroleum located at Onipanu, Palmgrove and Fola Agoro told LEADERSHIP that they have not received supply of the commodity in the last three months, accusing? the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) of? not supplying them the commodity.
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The manager of Mobil Filling Station at Onipanu who simply gave his name? as Wasiu, said his station has not been able to buy kerosene from the NNPC depot in Apapa in the past three months.
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“Our truck has been at the Apapa depot in the past three months and no supply of kerosene. The few ones you see being sold were bought from the black market at an exorbitant price. That is why the burden is passed to the consumer at a higher price,” Wasiu complained.
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LEADERSHIP learnt that a gallon of kerosene is sold for N750 in some of the retail outlets. A beer size bottle is sold for N150.
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At Sango and Ijoko areas of Ogun State, the commodity was hard to come by and where it was being sold, buyers were made to pay N180 for? litre, while a gallon containing four litres of the commodity? sold for N750.
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The Lagos Zonal Secretary, NUPENG, Tokunbo Korodo,while assessing the hardship caused by the scarcity and the attendant high price described it as an indirect removal of fuel subsidy and a ploy by the government to create artificial scarcity of the product.
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“Kerosene is very scarce at the moment. The depots are not even loading and the NNPC is not looking at the direction of kerosene scarcity now,” he said.
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Korodo stated that even when labour had rejected the plan by the government to remove fuel subsidy as from January next year, the federal government was? bent on having its way.
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He added that the quantity of kerosene being imported at the moment was very low. “It could? be a ploy by the government to cause artificial scarcity so that it would be able to implement its policy of fuel subsidy removal,” he stated.
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Unfortunately, any time scarcity occurs, people normally? resort to the use of firewood? for cooking because they cannot afford to buy kerosene at the current exorbitant price. But the fact remains that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)? is a better alternative to kerosene.
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Over the years lack of awareness and safety misconception about LPG has made it difficult for so many people to embrace the use of LPG.
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Many Nigerians will tell you, the cylinder is a bomb waiting to explode and catch fire. They will readily caution that one keeps a safe distance from cooking gas.But against? countries like Indonesia and Brazil, LPG consumption in Nigeria? is very low.
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NNPC? magazine estimated LPG consumption at? about 100,000 metric tons per annum with a per capita consumption of 0.5kg, even though available LPG in the country is said to be about 5 million metric tons per annum.
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Yet, it is a known fact that LPG has well established advantages over such alternatives as firewood, kerosene, electricity or charcoal. In respect of health, safety and the environment, it is the best option compared to the listed alternatives.
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According to the World Health Organisation(WHO) estimate, about two million people die world-wide annually from diseases associated with the inhalation of smoke from the use of firewood and charcoal in enclosed rooms and apartments.
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The benefits of the use of LPG are enormous. It can improve the health condition of? people, curb deforestation currently taking a toll on the vegetation of many northern states, while ensuring that the huge sums of money spent annually by the various tiers of government on forestation projects are used for other developmental purposes.
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Although cost wise, for anyone to cook with LPG, the person needs to make an initial investment of not less than N12,000 to buy the most rudimentary LPG appliances which may comprise? a 3kg cylinder and stove to fit.
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This obviously is on the high side , as it costs less than N300 to use firewood, about N600 to obtain a charcoal tripod and anything from N1,000 to procure a kerosene stove.
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Similarly, compared? to kerosene which enjoys enormous subsidy, the cost of LPG itself can be said to be high if one considers the fact that? the current ex-depot price of 1kg of LPG is about N100 per kg, while the retail consumer price is N275 per kg. The 1.5 litre of kerosene which has the equivalent energy content of 1 kg of LPG costs N75 only, due to the subsidy of N105 on the product.
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In a country with very low per capita income, to cough out N12,000 to buy LPG appliances amid cheaper alternatives is a difficult option to make.
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As a way out of the problem? occasioned by frequent scarcity and high price of kerosene, stakeholders need to create awareness on the importance of? using LPG .
Emphasis should be placed on its convenience, moreso as it? does not produce smoke nor leave odour in food.