PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government has distanced itself from the recent hike in petrol prices, stating that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) made the decision independently based on prevailing market conditions.
The adjustment has seen pump prices soar to as high as ₦1,075 per litre in some regions.
As of Wednesday, the NNPCL raised the fuel price in Abuja from ₦897 to ₦1,030 per litre, while prices in Lagos jumped from ₦855 to ₦998.
In other regions, the price changes were similarly steep, with the North-East seeing prices at ₦1,070, and the South-West states averaging ₦1,025. The South-East and South-South regions experienced price hikes to ₦1,045 and ₦1,075, respectively.
This surge in fuel prices has sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, prompting calls for President Bola Tinubu to intervene and reverse the increase.
According to Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the NNPCL’s decision was not influenced by the federal government.
Idris said that the government can no longer fix petroleum prices due to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The minister attributed the price increase to factors such as the Middle East crisis and global market volatility.
Idris noted that the subsidy regime ended in May 2023, and the NNPCL had been paying differential costs to maintain prices. However, the company can no longer absorb these losses.
He emphasized that the NNPCL is no longer in a position to absorb the financial losses incurred from previous price settings.
The minister stated, “The differential you’re seeing is a result of different factors.
“One of them is the crisis in the Middle East. There’s volatility in the market. Therefore, the prices of petroleum products are going up, consistent with what is happening with other operators in the industry globally. Secondly, NNPC cannot continue to absorb these losses for Nigeria because, as a limited liability company, it would be operating at a loss.”
The minister appealed to Nigerians to understand the situation, assuring that prices would eventually decrease.
He highlighted that savings from the subsidy removal would be reinvested into critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security.
Additionally, the minister mentioned that the government’s initial investments in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) would help mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices as more operators enter the market.
Eighteen-Eleven Media