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90% petrol sold in Abuja is contaminated-experts

By Daniel Adugbo

Around 90 percent of premium of motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol sold to consumers in the federal capital territory are bad fuel, experts in fuel refining and storage have observed.

They noted that the adulteration of petroleum products has led to consumers’ vehicles, generators and other equipment having problems .

It is in a bid to overcome some of these challenges faced by consumers in the use of petroleum products that the International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy (IIPELP) in collaboration with the Consumers Protection Council (CPC) organised a one-day familiarization workshop on the Strategic Management of Fuel for various organisations across different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

IIPELP Vice President Allen Martin said at the workshop that the body in conjunction with the CPC will start conducting audits of local petrol stations throughout Nigeria starting with Abuja.

“Imagine if we go to a fuel station down the road and do a fuel sample and it is substandard and should not be in the market, CPC will publicize it,” he said.

Director General of CPC Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said great focus should be in reducing the risk of fuel contamination and ensure fuel is safe for the end user.

The President of IIPELP Prof. Niyi Ayoola-Daniels noted that with the plan by the present government to reshape the refining of petroleum products in the country through modular refineries the major concern of the players in the industry is how the products will conform to international best practices.

The workshop with participants cut across several government agencies in the aviation, petroleum, defence and maritime aims to engage both regulatory bodies and fuel users to explore what the issues are in maintaining fuel quality, what the current standards permit and how they are enforced.