Nigerian govt denies raising fuel price

The Federal Government on Friday denied increasing the price of petroleum products in the country.

After several weeks of a crippling shortage of petrol, many filling stations in Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, and other parts of the country are selling the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol at between N200 and N250 per litre.

The development has fuelled insinuations about an increase in the price of the product by the federal government.

However, in a statement issued in Abuja by his media aide, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any increase in the price of petroleum products.

He described the scarcity and price hike as the handiwork of mischief makers who are determined to undermine the President’s efforts at improving the nation’s oil and gas sector.

Sylva said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any increase in the price of PMS or any other petroleum product for that matter.

READ ALSO: Petroleum minister, Sylva, says fuel at N300 per litre not too much for Nigerians

“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.

“The government will not approve any increase of PMS secretly without due consultations with the relevant stakeholders. The President has not directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority or any agency for that matter to increase the price of fuel.

“This is not the time for any increase in the pump price of PMS.”

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