ABSTRACT

The subject matter of tins research was chosen because of the importance of petroleum products to the Nigerian economy at large. Hence, the topic *Analysis of the marketing and distribution of petroleum products by independent marketers in Abia state, Nigeria’. The problem stated were scarcity and non-availability of petroleum products, unsteady supply leading to continual increase in price, which resulted in untold hardship on the criizenry and prevented economic growth. Specifically, ths study was earned out with a view to examining the socio-economic characteristics of the independent marketers in the study area, ascertaining the market structure and concentration, pricing/spatial efficiency in the marketing of the products, challengers of effective . distribution by the products. A random and an unbiased sampling method was used in the selection of a sample size of forty four (44) from a population of fifty (50). This was arrived at through the use of Yaro Yemen formula. To get to the root of the matter, questionnaires were administered to the selected respondents and their responses, together w.‘Jh ether data gathered from library research, fomicd the bedrock of this research. The collated and collected data were analyzed using the simple descriptive statistical tool such as percentages and means, Gini coefficient and marketing cost/et return margin respectively. The findings, based on the objectives, were that majority of the respondents were males, married and Christians, with their mean age and mean income being 51.9 years and N429.313 respectively. It was also discovered that a low market concentration existed in the petroleum • products markets in Abia state, Nigeria and that there was no significant relationship in the spatially separated markets of the DPK (kerosene) and the AGO (diesel), while that of the PMS (petrol'gas) showed that there was a significant relationship in the spatially separated markets. This showed that the various markets of the DPK and AGO were not spatially integrated. Furthermore, it was discovered that the independent marketers in Abia State, Nigeria had.-difficulty in getting’ constant supply of the various petroleum products and lastly that the marketing and distribution of petroleum products by the independent marketers in Abia State, Nigeria was highly profitable. This study thus recommended, based on the findings that enable constant and continuous supply of the products to the independent marketers. It was' also recommended that a price regulatory system should be put in place for the markets of the DPK and the AGO, just as it was for the PMS, to • ensure integration of the various markets