Fuel scarcity: FG speaks on increasing petrol price to N185

The federal government has insisted that it has not increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) also called petrol.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, clarified this on Friday in a statement signed by Horatius Egua, his senior adviser on media and communications.

Yesterday, several media reports claimed that the federal government quietly approved N185 as the new petrol pump price per litre.

But Sylva said the 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.”