Furry, frustration as kerosene price fluctuates to N300 per litre

Before now, using cooking gas is perceived as exclusive preserve of the upper class. It is uncommon to find or see cooking gas in households of middle class. Those who have in their homes know what it takes to purchase gas in plants. The trend of event in the price of gas, primarily precipitated by inflation has also affected gas and the price has skyrocketed. 

While preference for gas has not discouraged people who use it in spite of the price that has remained on the high side, kerosene seen as affordable cooking commodity usually patronised by domestic users has also witnessed frequent increase.

The price has remained inconsistent despite the total withdrawal of subsidy on the product by the government.

Investigation conducted across filling stations dispensing kerosene to the public in Ilorin yesterday revealed that the price of the commodity was unstable. It was oscillating between N210, N220 and N230 per litre last week.

But findings yesterday showed that while some stations sold the commodity at N190, others dispensed at N205.

Visit to Yemsonat along New Yidi Road, Ilorin revealed that a litre of kerosene was dispensed at N190 per litre.

An attendant at the station told our correspondent that the price of the commodity was not stable in the market hence the decision of the management of the station to sell based on the price the commodity was bought from Lagos and other states where they got supply.

The female attendant said the station had no reason not to sell to the public as long as the commodity was available, but insisted that price fixing was dependent on the amount and the supply they got the product.

She said, “Apart from petrol that we sell in this station, we also sell kerosene, and whatever we sell and the price we dispense to the public was determined by the amount the management got the product from Lagos and other places where we buy our product.

“For some time now, the price of kerosene in the market has not been consistent. We should not forget that the government itself has completely withdrawn the subsidy while the inflation is not also helpful.

“Except there is unexpected change in price, we sell a litre of kerosene at N190 per litre. But you know as business operator too, we cannot determine the market price, the price we fix for product depends on the amount we got it from depots in Lagos and other places”.

Similarly, a visit to Rockfield Petroleum on Fate Road, Ilorin also showed that a litre of kerosene was dispensed at N205 per litre. This was against N210 that the station sold the commodity last week.