Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum has dismissed reports that it intends to increase the price of petrol pump price following the recent fuel crisis in the country.
In a statement signed by Idang Alibi, Director, Press, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Ministry noted that the speech of Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State For Petroleum Resources was taken out of context.
“The attention of the office of the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources has been drawn to some certain publications making the rounds on both traditional and social media alleging that the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu dropped a hint of an impending fuel price increase during the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee hearing on fuel scarcity in Nigeria,” the statement said.
“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources would like to categorically state that the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources all through his presentations at the hearing never mentioned nor insinuated the need or plans by the Federal Government to increase the current pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
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It noted further that, “It would be expedient to note that that the Presidency has set up a special committee to identify the immediate and remote causes of the fuel scarcity with a view to finding both immediate and long lasting solutions to the challenge.
“The Committee has been in rounds of deliberations in the past few days and these discussions are still ongoing.
Adding that, “The final decisions and recommendations from the Committee would be passed on to the President and Commander-In-Chief for approval.”
It urged the public to disregard rumours of petrol pump price increase in news reports.
“The general public and indeed stakeholders in the Oil and Gas sector are by this statement urged to disregard any such report of a price increase.
“Further information and communiqué on the resolutions would be communicated as and when due,” the statement read.
