By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Following the purported hike of petroleum products by federal government, Bayelsa State Government has warned petrol marketers to desist from illegal and arbitrary increase in the pump price of petroleum products.
In a press statement issue to newsmen in Yenagoa by the special adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas, Hon.Franklin Otele , said the government was not aware of any official price adjustment and that the action of most filling stations in the state, particularly in the state capital, Yenagoa, was unjustifiable.
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has just this afternoon denied media reports that it has increased the pump price of petrol.
Hon. Otele stated that it is disheartening to note that most of the filling stations had unilaterally jacked up the pump price for petrol to between N197 and N210 naira per litre across the state, thereby causing panic among the unsuspecting customers.
The Special Adviser urged the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), to call its members to order as any erring filling stations would be sealed-off.
Hon. Otele, also called on members of the public and consumers to remain calm as relevant officials of the state government are liaising with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other stakeholders including fuel marketers to immediately address and resolve the matter.
Meanwhile the federal government has denied any hike in pump price of petrol, saying the general public should disregard such misleading information .
The Honourable Minister of State for petroleum Resources, H.E Timipre Sylva made the clarification in press conference held in Abuja.
“Dear Nigerians, you are by now very aware of the news trending that the federal govt 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 govt 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 govt would unilaterally abandon these discussions and act in the manner suggested by the information under reference,”he said.
