More confusion continues to hit the oil sector as FG denies authorising any hike in petrol price.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Federal Government has denied any increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit popularly called petrol, despite the hike in the cost of the commodity across the country.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who made the disclosure in a statement issued by his media aide, Horatius Egua, in Abuja on Friday, said the President, Muhammadu Buhari, had not approved any price increase for PMS.
Media reports had claimed an increase in the pump price of the product from the official N169.50 per litre to N185, for which many major markets adjusted their meters. Even with the alleged hike, prices of PMS continued to soar, in some instances, hitting N300 and above in some states outside Lagos.
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But the minister was quoted as saying, President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any increase in the price of PMS or any other petroleum product for that matter.
“There is no reason for President Muhammadu Buhari to renege on his earlier promise not to approve any increase in the price of PMS at this time.
“Mr. President is sensitive to the plight of the ordinary Nigerian and has said repeatedly that he understands the challenges of the ordinary Nigerian and would not want to cause untold hardship for the electorate. This is not the time for any increase in pump price of PMS”, Sylva stated
He blamed mischief makers and those planning to discredit the achievements of President Buhari in the oil and gas sector of the economy for the confusion in the sector.
He appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and law abiding stressing that the government is working hard to bring normalcy to fuel supply and distribution in the country.