By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has said that no directive was issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol to N897 per litre.
A statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Communication, Nnemaka Okafor, insisted that the Minister did not direct the NNPC Ltd. or any other entity within the sector to manipulate prices.
The statement reads: “The Federal Government has been compelled to address the outright falsehood and malicious claims currently circulating on social media.
“We categorically condemn these claims as baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to incite public discontent.
“We challenge anyone in possession of any evidence-be it written documents, audio, or video recordings-that supports these fabrications to make it public.
“Such a claim is entirely devoid of truth and should be recognised as an intentional effort to mislead the public.”
It noted that the NNPC Ltd. operates as an independent entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a fully empowered Board of Directors, as such, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not, and will not interfere in its internal decisions, including pricing matters.
The statement reads further: “Any suggestion otherwise is not only incorrect but also reveals a profound misunderstanding of the deregulated nature of Nigeria’s petroleum sector.”
He advised the public to dismiss these malicious rumors, saying: “Any claim to the contrary is nothing more than an ill-conceived attempt to sow discord and confusion.
“We urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely solely on information from verified and official channels.”
Any suggestion otherwise is not only incorrect but also reveals a profound misunderstanding of the deregulated nature of Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
