By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The Operations Controller, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in charge of Benue State, Mr Muhammad Salihu, has clarified that the authority under his watch has not been given any pump price of fuel to enforce.
Mr Salihu, who gave this clarification while fielding questions from Daybreak in an exclusive interview in Makurdi, denied any knowledge about the alleged new pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise refered to as fuel by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
According to the Operations Controller, the different prices of petrol been experienced by Nigerians was as a result of the deregulation policy, adding that since the Federal Government no longer regulate the price of the product, the market forces now determine the price of fuel.
“In deregulation, the market forces determine the price of petrol. The different prices we have seen is as a result of the deregulation. We have not been given any pump price of fuel to enforce. Government has no hand in regulating the the price of the product due to the removal of fuel subsidy”.
He explained that the Petroleum Act 2021 indicated that the Federal Government has no hand in increasing fuel pump price. “What made the thing as bad as it is, is the floating of the naira and fuel subsidy removal because there’s no price control. The Petroleum Act 2021 indicated that Government has no hand in increasing fuel pump price. There’s no fix price of fuel by government.”
Pressed to comment on the alleged new pump price by NNPCL, the Operations Controller noted that he has not been briefed about the new development, this is as he declined to further comment on the issue.
Daybreak’s checks indicated that the NNPCL has announced new price of Premium Motor Spirit, which has prompted reactions from Nigerians due to the economic hardship they are currently experiencing.
