The Federal Government has denied having authorized any increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as gasoline, despite the rise in the cost of the product throughout the country.
According to Punch, this was made known by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, through a statement issued by his press adviser, Horatius Egua, in Abuja on Friday, where he said that President Muhammadu Buhari had not approved any increase. of prices. for gasoline
Buhari has not approved any gasoline price hike
- Sylva was quoted as saying: “President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any increase in the price of PMS or any other petroleum products. There is no reason for President Muhammadu Buhari to renege on his earlier promise not to approve any price increases for PMS at this time.
- “Mr. President is sensitive to the plight of the ordinary Nigerian and has repeatedly said that he understands the challenges of the ordinary Nigerian and would not want to cause untold hardship for the electorate.
- “The government will not secretly approve any PMS increase without due consultation with relevant stakeholders. The President has not ordered the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority or any agency to increase the price of fuel. This is not the time for any increase in the sale price of PMS.”
Mischievous trying to discredit the achievements of the government
The minister pointed out that what was happening was the work of wrongdoers and those who planned to discredit the president’s achievements in the oil and gas economic sector.
- He added, “What is happening is the work of the mischievous and those who plan to discredit Mr. President’s achievements in the oil and gas economic sector. I call on Nigerians to remain calm and abide by the law as the government is working hard to normalize fuel supply and distribution in the country.”
to catch
- Oil traders had previously confirmed the increase in the price of gasoline, stating that this was one of the reasons why major traders were distributing the product at higher prices today.
- Nairametrics in an earlier report had said that some media reports had suggested that the Federal Government had increased the official pump price of premium motor alcohol (fuel) to N185 per liter on Thursday 19 January.
- The federal government has reportedly sent a directive to all marketers including the Nigerian Oil Marketers Association (MOMAN) and the Independent Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) informing them to adjust the pump price accordingly. .