Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has condemned what it described as manipulation and alteration of metering devices by independent marketers of petroleum products in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, including fuel dispensing stations managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
“We in the organised civil rights community are deeply shocked that consumers of petroleum products in Abuja are left alone to face these undue and totally reprehensible practices perpetrated by fuel marketers,” HURIWA said in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.
“These brazen manipulative acts of treachery abd criminality going on even besides corporate offices of the NNPCL and other highly visible institutions such as the Nigeria Police Force and the Transcorp Hilton demonstrates that these illegal and unethical practices are backed up by powerful people in government and within the corridors of power.”
The rights group stated that it was shocking that such extensive criminal practices are going on even under the nose of the upstream regulatory agencies like the NNPCL and the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.
HURIWA added, “The extensive nature of the sophisticated crime of price manipulation and the illegal alterations of metering devices by petrol stations in the FCT, has made it inevitable to advocate for immediate steps by the enforcement agencies including the federal agencies involved in combating price manipulation and other illegal practices orchestrated by these independent marketers of fuel in the nation’s capital to stave off the huge burden of unethical practices in the petrol stations unleashed on consumers of petrol in the FCT.
“We in HURIWA recall that at a recent one-day town hall meeting in Lagos, the FCCPC Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, sounded the alarm, calling for collaboration between stakeholders in Nigeria’s production and distribution sectors.”
The group explained that the FCCPC’s research uncovered a series of damning practices, chief among them price manipulation orchestrated by a few powerful market players.
“Tunji Bello pointed out that the manipulation of prices is not just unethical but illegal, violating Section 17 of the FCCP Act, which empowers the Commission to eliminate anti-competitive, misleading, and deceptive practices.
“As the town hall meeting drew to a close, one thing was clear: the fight against consumer exploitation requires a multi-faceted approach. The FCCPC’s efforts to engage stakeholders and promote fair competition are crucial, but they are only part of the solution.
“Bello reaffirmed the FCCPC’s commitment to cracking down on unethical practices, urging all stakeholders to play their part in protecting Nigerian consumers.”
