By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
As Nigerians continue to groan under the heavy weight of the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS), the federal government has denied increasing the price of the essential product.
Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, made the government position known on Friday in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja by his Senior Adviser on Media and Communications, Horatius Egua.
Prompt News reports that several media reports had on Thursday claimed that the federal government has quietly approved N185 per litre as the new petrol pump price.
But Sylva said President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any price increase for petrol, as he is sensitive to the plight of the citizens.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any increase in the price of PMS or any other petroleum product for that matter,” he said.
“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.
“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 pump price of PMS.”
Sylva also said what was playing out was the “handiwork of mischief makers and those planning to discredit the achievements of the president” in the oil and gas sector.
“I appeal to Nigerians to remain calm and law-abiding as the government is working hard to bring normalcy to fuel supply and distribution in the country,” he said.
Petrol scarcity has lingered since November, 2022. This situation is further worsened by disparity in the pump prices of the commodity across the country.
