Prominent pro-democracy advocates, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has condemned the extensive, massive and well-coordinated price manipulation, alteration of metering devices by virtually sixty-five to seventy percent of independent marketers of petroleum products in the nation?s capital including fuel dispensing stations managed under the auspices of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. ?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?.

Raising the alarm in a media statement is the National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, who indicated that deeply entrenched manipulation and other illegal practices orchestrated by these independent marketers mostly and even involved the NNPCL managed fuel stations and even the fuel stations directly in front of the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, the one in front of the Transcorp Hilton and the NNPCL pumping stations near American international college in Durumi Area one and the fuel stations adjacent the corporate offices of the NNPCL in the Central Business District of FCT. ?These brazen manipulative acts of treachery and 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 yet no effective and remedial steps are adopted to bring these culprits to justice just as the Rights group wants the Federal Office of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in collaboration with the Directorate of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the EFCC and the ICPC to immediately launch discreet but intelligence guided investigations by visiting the fuel pumping stations in the Abuja Municipal Area Council without notification to catch the culprits unawares and to deal decisively with them to save consumers from these illicit practices and manipulation of prices by sellers of fuel to Nigerians.

HURIWA said 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.

His words: "We discovered that some traders form cartels in the markets and impose barriers, such as exorbitant membership fees to control prices. Without joining these groups, others are barred from selling goods or providing services. This practice is illegal and contrary to the Commission?s mandate,? Bello asserted his voice steady yet firm.

He explained that the FCCPC?s research uncovered a series of damning practices, chief among them price manipulation orchestrated by a few powerful market players.

The FCCPC?s strategy hinges on fostering collaboration rather than confrontation, a stance that has won the support of many. Executive Commissioner of the FCCPC, Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, also emphasises the illegalities of price fixing and price gouging.

His remarks were delivered with precision, as he outlined how market associations are often complicit in these practices, dictating prices that harm consumers.

?We have observed prices being raised multiple times within a single day, which is unacceptable,? Dr. Adamu declared, his tone underscoring the gravity of the situation.

?Market associations can exist, but when they engage in price discussions and set prices collectively, it constitutes a violation,? he added.

He 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.

On the economic outlook, Bello stated that the removal of taxes on imported food items, pharmaceutical products and transportation was part of measures being taken by the Tinubu administration to cushion the effects of the reforms introduced to reposition the Nigerian economy.

He sought the cooperation of the traders to ensure that the consumers get the benefits through reduced prices.

?Such laudable measures by President Tinubu would, however, be in vain if the benefits are not passed down to the consumers,? said Bello.

HURIWA is therefore charging this strategic government agency to step in and check the proliferation of price manipulation and illicit practices by independent marketers of petroleum products in the nation?s capital.

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