FG Denies Ordering NNPCL To Raise Fuel Price

• As Dangote Petrol Hits Market

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri has said that no directive was issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to increase petroleum price to N1,000.

Lokpobiri, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Communication, Nnemaka Okafor, said he did not direct the NNPC Ltd. or any other entity within the sector to manipulate prices.

“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,” he said.

He explained that the NNPC Ltd. operates as an independent entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a fully empowered Board of Directors and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not, and will not interfere in NNPC Ltd.’s internal decisions, including pricing matters.

“Any suggestion otherwise is not only incorrect but also reveals a profound misunderstanding of the deregulated nature of Nigeria’s petroleum sector,” he said.

He advised the public to dismiss these malicious rumors.

“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,” he said. (NAN)

… As Dangote Petrol Hits Market

Businessman, Aliko Dangote has announced that petrol from his 650,000-barrel-per-day facility will be available at filling stations within the next 48 hours.

Speaking at a press briefing, today, Dangote said that the product will hit the market once final arrangements with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) were completed.

“Our PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) can be in filling stations within the next 48 hours, depending on NNPCL,” he said.

Asked to speak on the pricing of petrol from his refinery, Dangote said, “It is an arrangement which is designed and approved by the Federal Executive Council led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“As soon as it is finalised, which he (Tinubu) is pushing, once we finish with NNPC, it can be today, it can be tomorrow, we are ready to roll into the market.”

Dangote assured Nigerians of the high quality of petrol from his refinery, saying that they would have “good petrol while the engines of your vehicles will last longer. You will not be having an engine issue, which a lot of us were having. It won’t happen at all”. He added, “The quality here will match that of anywhere in the world; US, America, we will make sure that nobody will beat us in terms of quality”.