The Federal Government has described as false and malicious the reports being circulated on social media suggesting that it gave directive to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to inflate petroleum prices to one thousand Naira (N1000) above the approved pump price.
Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri dismissed the reports in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Nnemaka Okafor.
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”, he said.
Senator Lokpobiri stressed that NNPCL operates as an independent entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a fully empowered Board of Directors.
Noting that 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”, he noted.
He, therefore, advised the public to dismiss the malicious rumors, as he cannot, and does not, direct NNPCL or any other entity within the sector to manipulate prices, emphasising that any claim to the contrary was nothing more than an ill- conceived attempt to sow discord and confusion.
He urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely solely on information from verified and official channels.
