Federal Government of Nigeria will henceforth, hands off releasing guiding price bands for the sale of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, at filling stations.
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) disclosed this in Abuja, adding that based on this, the downstream arm of the oil and gas sector had been fully deregulated.
Responding to questions from journalists during a briefing at the headquarters of PPPRA, the agency’s Executive Secretary, Abdulkadir Saidu, stated that going forward, PMS price would be determined by the forces of demand and supply and the international cost of crude oil.
He, however, noted that the role of the agency would be to ensure that oil marketers do not profiteer, as every petrol dealer was, henceforth free to source for product and fix their price.
“This, however, must be in accordance with our code of conduct because as a regulator, it is our duty to protect the consumer and operators must abide by our codes,” Saidu stated.
The PPPRA boss, who was represented by the agency’s General Manager, Administration and Human Resources, Victor Shidok, also confirmed that oil marketers were not currently importing petrol because of the scarcity of foreign exchange.
About 2 months ago, FG said they will now allow demand and supply in the Petroleum industry determine price of fuel. Nigerians found out it was all talk and no action. Now they are saying it again. This government speaks from two sides of the mouth. They hardly act on things they say. so deceptive.
The price of fuel is falling in other parts of the world but increasing in Nigeria, what a situation we are in.