The Minister of State Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokbobiri has said there is no directive to sell Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) above N1,000 landing cost.
Lokpobiri denied the claims circulating on social media in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Communication, Nnemaka Okafor and sent to NewsNGR.
The minister said the federal government is compelled to address claims that he described as “outright falsehoods.”
He said, “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.”
Lokpobiri said that NNPCL operates as an independent entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).
Also, he added that the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 transitioned the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation into an incorporated firm with its Board of Directors.
Lokpobiri said, “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.
“The public is hereby, strongly advised to dismiss these malicious rumors. 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.”