The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Kano has alerted the Federal Government over an imminent fuel crisis in the country following the decision by some unpatriotic private depot owners to unilaterally raise the price of the product.

IPMAN chairman Kano chapter, Alhaji Bashir Danmallam, stated this in a statement issued in Kano on Friday.

He said some of the private Depot owners have increased the price of the commodity from N148 per litre to between N153 and N155 per litre since Friday last week.

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He said the association finds it necessary to alert the Government in order not to blame its members in event of any increase in the price of the commodity as they would not operate at a loss.

“Some private depot owners are trying to sabotage the Federal Government by unilaterally increasing their prices despite the fact that the government has not raised the fuel pump price.

“We are equally calling on the Management of the NNPC to investigate the issue as some of the private Depot owners have since Friday last week jerked up the price from N148 per litre to between N153 and N155 per litre. We know it’s only the Federal Government that imports fuel into the country.

“As Iam talking to you private depot owners in Warri, Calabar  Lagos and Oghara in Delta State have increased their prices. We hope the management of the NNPC will investigate and intervene,” the statement declared.

He also accused the private depot owners of trying to cause fuel crisis in the country by closing the depots as the last quarter approaches in order to maximize profit.

He said the association would not fold its arms and allow such unpatriotic private depot owners to engage in unnecessary price increase while the public is always accusing their members of flagrant increase in fuel prices.