Buhari never secretly approved N185 litre fuel pump price: Sylva

The federal government has refuted claims that it increased the pump price of fuel to N185 per litre.

In a statement issued on Friday, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said that the president had not authorised such increase.

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

“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,” the statement read.

Despite the federal government’s denial, some marketers across the country still sell above N200 per litre.

In a notice to petroleum marketers on Thursday, the federal government reportedly ordered that an increase of N185 per litre take effect immediately.

On Friday, fuel stations along the Ojodu and Ogba axis of the state were selling between N230 and N240 a litre.

Further checks by Peoples Gazette on Saturday morning showed that AMUF oil in Ojodu Aboidun area of Ogun state was selling at N265 per litre.

Mr Sylvia said the government will not covertly approve any price increases without consulting 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,” the junior minister said.

Contacted on Friday by Peoples Gazette, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) said that it was not responsible for the increase.

The Group Manager for Public alAffairs, Garba Deen Muhammad, said “NNPC does NOT fix price for PMS. This is the responsibility of the regulator, the NMDPR.”