Two
government officials on Thursday gave diverse indications on what government is
considering to resolve the current petrol scarcity.
While a state governor who briefed journalists
after a meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo hinted at a possible
price increase, the Minister of State for Petroleum said such was not being
contemplated.
The federal government and the state-owned NNPC
have repeatedly vowed that there was no plan to increase the N145 per litre
official price of the product despite the scarcity. This is despite the fact
that most Nigerians across the country pay about N200 per litre to buy the
scarce commodity.
An indication of the possible price increase
was provided by a state governor who briefed journalists at the end of the
National Executive Council, NEC, meeting. The meeting, attended by most state
governors, was presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi told
journalists that the NEC asked one of its committees, interfacing with revenue
agencies in the country, to work on getting the correct price for petroleum
products.
He said the committee is headed by the Governor
of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo.
Mr. Abubakar said the committee “has been
charged with the responsibility of interfacing with NNPC with a view to
determining the correct price for PMS (petrol) considering the price of the
product especially in countries that are bordering Nigeria.”
The Bauchi governor said the NEC realised that
the price differential between Nigeria and her immediate neighbours is one of
the reasons why the product is being smuggled thereby causing its scarcity in
the country.
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