The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and marketers in
the downstream oil sector have finally opened up on the alleged plans to
increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as fuel.
The Nigeria Labour Congress recently declared that the
Federal Government should not test its (NLC’s) resolve by hiking the price.
Reacting, however, the corporation’s Group General Manager
for Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said there was no plan to hike the price.
He told newsmen that the national oil firm had never
complained about the financial burden it shouldered in ensuring that the
country remained wet with products.
Ughamadu said, “The government and the NNPC had denied
rumours of petrol price increase on several occasions. There is nothing of such
for now. And assuming we are incurring losses, we have not complained. We have
various roles to play in the country as supplier of last resort even when
others are not supplying.
“We are not complaining; and we will continue to ensure that
our refineries produce at optimum capacity and support production with imports
when necessary. There is no directive from the Federal Government to increase
petrol price at the moment.”
On his part, the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers
Association of Nigeria, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, said there were no discussions
between the government and the marketers regarding increase in fuel price.
He said some marketers were even reducing petrol prices,
adding, “There is glut in the market, so there is no way anybody will want to
think of increasing prices now. The NNPC is over-importing.”
By Ameh Comrade Godwin
