The Federal Government has shut down growing insinuations that it has increased the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)popularly called petrol, even as the hike in the cost of the commodity persists across the country.
The denial was contained in a statement issued by Horatius Egua, the media aide to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, in Abuja on Friday, January 20, 2023.
The statement emphasised that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, has not approved any price increase for PMS.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any increase in the price of PMS or any other petroleum product for that matter.
READ ALSO: Explosion Rocks Port Harcourt APC Rally, As Buhari Receives Emefiele
“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 comes amid reports that the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has increased the price of petrol to #185 per litre without official notification.
NAN reports that some marketers who spoke anonymously claimed the federal government had begun the subsidy withdrawal, urging marketers to adjust their pump price.
READ ALSO: FG Increases Petrol Price To N185 Per Litre
Even though MOMAN hasn’t officially substantiated the claim, a source insisted that the marketers have been asked to change the pump price of petrol.
Reacting to this, the statement quoted Sylva to have said that government will not covertly change the fuel pump price without prior consultations with concerned stakeholders.
Trending video of the day;
Photo Credit: Getty
