Minister Apologises Over Distress Caused By Fuel Price Hike Misinformation

…says action was a mix-up

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, has
apologised to Nigerians for the distress and inconvenience caused
by ‘unfortunate information about the hike in fuel price.

Sylva in a statement on Friday explained that neither he nor
President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the increase in the retail
price of petrol to N212 per litre.

He said irrespective of the source of the information, “I want
to assure you that it is completely untrue.”

Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPRA) in the early
hours of Friday released a template showing that the new price of
petrol has reached N212.6 per litre.

This sparked outrage across the country with many lamenting the
effect that the increase would have on food prices and
transportation in the country.

The PPRA later deleted the post which was earlier published on
its website,
http://pppra.gov.ng/pms-guiding-price-for-march-2021/

See the full statement by the Minister of Petroleum
below…

Dear Nigerians, you are by now very aware of the news trending
that the Federal Government has increased the price of petrol to
N212.6 per litre.

Irrespective of the source of that information, I want to assure
you that it is completely untrue. Neither Mr. President who is the
Minister of Petroleum Resources nor my humble self who deputises
for him as Minister of State, has approved that the pump price of
petrol should be increased by one naira. I would therefore urge you
to disregard this misleading information.

You are all aware that for the past few months the government
has been in consultation with organized labour to find the least
painful option to respond to the global rise in the price of crude,
which in turn has inevitably led to an increase in the price of
PMS. It is unthinkable that the government would unilaterally
abandon these discussions and act in the manner suggested by the
information under reference.

Cynism and deceit have never been the trademark of the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

I would like to equally assure you that the engagement with
organized labour and other stakeholders will continue even as the
calculations to arrive at a reasonable price regime are being done;
all in good faith, and you will be availed of the final outcome at
the appropriate time.

Until then, all marketers are strongly advised to maintain the
current pump price of PMS before the emergence of this unfortunate
information. Those who may want to take advantage of this
unfortunate misinformation to extort Nigerians should not give in
to such temptation as there are regulatory mechanisms that govt can
enforce to protect its citizens.

In conclusion, I want to sincerely apologise to all Nigerians
for any distress and inconvenience the unfortunate information
might have caused.

…says action was a mix-up

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, has
apologised to Nigerians for the distress and inconvenience caused
by ‘unfortunate information about the hike in fuel price.

Sylva in a statement on Friday explained that neither he nor
President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the increase in the retail
price of petrol to N212 per litre.

He said irrespective of the source of the information, “I want
to assure you that it is completely untrue.”

Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPRA) in the early
hours of Friday released a template showing that the new price of
petrol has reached N212.6 per litre.

This sparked outrage across the country with many lamenting the
effect that the increase would have on food prices and
transportation in the country.

The PPRA later deleted the post which was earlier published on
its website,
http://pppra.gov.ng/pms-guiding-price-for-march-2021/

See the full statement by the Minister of Petroleum
below…

Dear Nigerians, you are by now very aware of the news trending
that the Federal Government has increased the price of petrol to
N212.6 per litre.

Irrespective of the source of that information, I want to assure
you that it is completely untrue. Neither Mr. President who is the
Minister of Petroleum Resources nor my humble self who deputises
for him as Minister of State, has approved that the pump price of
petrol should be increased by one naira. I would therefore urge you
to disregard this misleading information.

You are all aware that for the past few months the government
has been in consultation with organized labour to find the least
painful option to respond to the global rise in the price of crude,
which in turn has inevitably led to an increase in the price of
PMS. It is unthinkable that the government would unilaterally
abandon these discussions and act in the manner suggested by the
information under reference.

Cynism and deceit have never been the trademark of the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

I would like to equally assure you that the engagement with
organized labour and other stakeholders will continue even as the
calculations to arrive at a reasonable price regime are being done;
all in good faith, and you will be availed of the final outcome at
the appropriate time.

Until then, all marketers are strongly advised to maintain the
current pump price of PMS before the emergence of this unfortunate
information. Those who may want to take advantage of this
unfortunate misinformation to extort Nigerians should not give in
to such temptation as there are regulatory mechanisms that govt can
enforce to protect its citizens.

In conclusion, I want to sincerely apologise to all Nigerians
for any distress and inconvenience the unfortunate information
might have caused.