Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva has reassured Nigerians that the federal government will not increase the price of petrol despite recent rumours to that effect.
In a statement he personally signed on Friday, Mr. Sylva said that the information that government has increased the price of petrol to N212.6 per liter “is completely untrue”.
He said that neither the Minister of Petroleum Resources, President Muhammadu Buhari, nor himself approved that the pump price of petrol should be increased.
He noted that 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 that has led to the increase in the price of PMS.
Sylva, therefore, urge Nigerians to disregard this misleading information as the price for fuel remains unchanged.
The statement reads in part:
“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 liter.
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 deputise 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 increase in the price of PMS.
It is unthinkable that government would unilaterally abandon these discussions and act in the manner suggested by the information under reference.
I would like to equally assure you that the engagement with organized labour and other stakeholders will continue even as the calculations […]
Cynism and deceit have never been the trademark of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
