Nigerian Govt Denies Ordering NNPCL To Sell Fuel At ₦1,000

The Federal Government has dismissed viral reports claiming that the Ministry of Petroleum directed the NNPCL to sell fuel at ₦1,000 per liter, above the approved pump price.

A report, not attributed to The Nation, alleged that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri, instructed NNPC to raise the fuel price to ₦1,000.

In response, a statement issued on Tuesday by the Minister’s aide, Nnemeka Okafor, debunked the report as false and misleading, stating that it was fabricated to create discord and confusion in the oil industry.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Nnemeka clarified, “At no point has the Federal Government interfered with petroleum pricing through NNPCL, let alone issued directives for a price increase.”

She said: “The Federal Government is compelled to address the outright falsehoods currently being circulated on social media, which claim that the Honourable Minister for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to inflate petroleum prices above the approved pump price.

“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 recognized as an intentional effort to mislead the public.

“It must be stressed that NNPCL operates as an independent entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a fully empowered Board of Directors. “

“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not, and will not, interfere in the internal decisions of NNPCL, 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.”