The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, has refuted claims of the reintroduction of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. This response was prompted by various assertions from different individuals and groups regarding the alleged return of the subsidy. The government has challenged those making these claims to provide evidence to support their allegations, emphasizing that President Bola Tinubu had declared an end to the subsidy on petrol, a stance that remains unchanged.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, reiterated the government's position, stating that fuel subsidy is a sensitive issue and that the government had clearly communicated its stance on the matter. He emphasized that the subsidy removal remains in effect, urging those alleging its continuation to provide factual evidence to the contrary.
Responding to inquiries, Lokpobiri's media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, shared a video clip where the minister addressed the claims of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and marketers regarding the subsidy. In the clip, Lokpobiri reiterated that petrol subsidy had ceased to exist, urging anyone claiming otherwise to present concrete evidence. He emphasized the importance of dealing with the current petrol price situation based on facts and evidence.
Despite claims by some oil marketers backing El-Rufai's assertion of a subsidy return, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has maintained that it is not subsidizing petrol. NNPC stated that it is recovering its full costs on imported petroleum products and insisted that there is no subsidy on petrol. This declaration comes amidst debates on the actual status of the petrol subsidy, with different stakeholders expressing varying opinions.
