The Nigerian Government has rejected claims that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to set fuel prices at N1,000.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Federal Government refuted the allegation, labeling it as a deliberate attempt to create confusion and unrest in the oil sector. The statement, issued by Nnemaka Okafor, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, emphasized that no such directive was given.
“The Federal Government must clarify the misinformation circulating on social media,” the statement read. “We condemn these allegations as unfounded, malicious, and intended to incite public dissatisfaction. We challenge anyone with evidence supporting these claims to produce it publicly.”
The statement highlighted that NNPCL operates independently under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, with its own Board of Directors responsible for internal decisions, including pricing. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not interfere in NNPCL’s pricing decisions, the statement clarified.
“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not and will not interfere in NNPCL’s internal affairs,” it concluded. “These claims reflect a significant misunderstanding of the deregulated nature of Nigeria’s petroleum sector.”
