NNPC speaks on fuel scarcity, hike in price

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has dispelled any rumours of fuel scarcity in the country.

The corporation further advised petroleum product consumers to disregard trending rumour of a planned hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The new NNPC boss, Mr. Mele Kyari, had Thursday disclosed that the petroleum price of N145 per litre obtainable in Nigeria was the cheapest in the West African sub-region.

Kyari spoke while submitting the revenue generated before the Senate.

NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, in a statement on Thursday, clarified that what the “NNPC GMD stated during his engagement with the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan, at the National Assembly yesterday was that the price of petrol was abysmally low in Nigeria compared to what obtained in neighbouring West African countries.

“Mallam Kyari had observed at the event that the huge disparity in the pump price of petrol between Nigeria on the one hand and her neighbouring country, on the other hand, tended to encourage cross-border leakages, as he sought the support of the leadership of the National Assembly to curb the malaise of smuggling.

“He advised Nigerians from all walks of life to disregard the insinuation of a planned hike in the price of petrol by NNPC, saying statutorily, NNPC was not even in a position to regulate the price of petroleum products, advising that NNPC role as an operator must be differentiated from that of any of the Industry regulators.”

Ughamadu said that as directed by relevant agencies of the Government, the pump Price of petrol remains N145 per litre.

He cautioned petroleum products, marketers, not to sell petrol above N145 per litre following the disclaimed rumour.

“NNPC advised Nigerians to remain vigilant and volunteer information to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Industry regulator, or to any law enforcement agency around them, on any station which sells petrol beyond N145 per litre,” it added.