The Minister of Petroleum Resources (State), Mr Timipre Sylva has explained the recent increase in the price of petrol, admitting that the deregulation of the petroleum sub-sector will be difficult for a while but pay off on the long run.
Mr Sylva said this on Thursday during a briefing in Abuja and noted that the government no longer controls the price of the product.
According to him, the Nigerian government spends over a trillion naira yearly as subsidy payment, explaining that the high cost forced the government to allow market forces to determine the prices of the product.
The former Bayelsa Governor noted that the current price of petrol is a reflection of the global crude oil price.
READ ALSO: Nigerians Pay More For Fuel As Depot Price Hits N151.56
He revealed that the Federal Government is not working on any kind of policy to cushion the effect of the deregulation. Instead, is introducing alternatives to petrol.
Mr Sylva revealed that the alternatives include Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and it will be rolled out by the end of the month.
Stating further, Mr Sylva said that the Department of Petroleum Resources will engage marketers to upgrade their facilities to be able to dispense the alternatives.
The Minister revealed that NNPC owned Petrol Stations will be the pilot and the flag-off will be in Abuja by month-end.
Petrol stations across the country increased the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, on Thursday.
The prices ranged from between N155 and N162 per litre, Channels Television correspondents across the country observed.
The increase was triggered after the product’s ex-depot price was increased on Wednesday from N138.62 to N151.56, according to an internal memo from the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC).
The PPMC is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
According to the memo, the new product price adjustment will take effect from September 2.
However, it did not state the Expected Open Market Price of the commodity.
