The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has refuted claims that he instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to raise the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel, to N1,000 per litre. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Nnemaka Okafor, Lokpobiri dismissed the allegations as unfounded and aimed at stirring public unrest.
Lokpobiri’s response comes in light of reports suggesting that he had directed the NNPCL to increase petrol prices above the current landing cost of N1,117 per litre, as a measure to curb the smuggling of petroleum products to neighboring countries. The practice has worsened following the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023, which led to a significant rise in petrol prices.
Currently, while the average price of petrol in Nigeria stands at N701.99 per litre, it is sold for as much as N2,061.55 in Cameroon and over N1,672.05 in the Republic of Benin.
In his statement, Lokpobiri challenged anyone with evidence—whether written documents, audio, or video recordings—that supports these claims to make it public. He emphasized that the allegations are entirely baseless and should be recognized as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
“The Federal Government feels compelled to address the outright falsehoods being circulated on social media,” the statement read, “These claims that Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has directed the NNPCL to inflate petroleum prices to one thousand Naira (N1000) above the approved pump price are baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to incite public discontent.”
“We categorically condemn these claims and urge anyone in possession of any evidence to make it public. Such a claim is entirely devoid of truth and should be recognized as an intentional effort to mislead the public,” the statement continued.
Lokpobiri also highlighted that the NNPCL operates independently under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) with a fully empowered Board of Directors. He clarified that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not interfere in the internal decisions of the NNPCL, including pricing matters.
“Any suggestion to the contrary is incorrect and reveals a profound misunderstanding of the deregulated nature of Nigeria’s petroleum sector,” Lokpobiri asserted.
The Minister concluded by advising the public to dismiss these malicious rumors and to rely solely on information from verified and official channels. “The Minister cannot, and does not, direct NNPCL or any other entity within the sector to manipulate prices. Any claim to the contrary is nothing more than an ill-conceived attempt to sow discord and confusion.”
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