By Dele Ogbodo
Even as the lingering fuel scarcity is yet to abate in some states, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu,
has assured that government will not review upward the price of pump price beyond N145 per litre.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Mr. Idang Alibi, who quoting his boss, said the Minister did not averred while meeting with both committees of members of the National Assembly on fuel scarcity that the price of premium motor spirit other wise called petrol will move up.
However, Alibi, said federal government has set up facts finding committee to provide lasting solution to the unending fuel crisis in the country.
While briefing the media on Friday, the Minister assured that government is not considering upping the price of petrol from its N145 benchmark. T
On the N145 per litre, he said: “This is not a political issue, people should step out of the goal post. We want to provide succour to Nigerians, we want to provide the product at N145 per litre, that is the presidential mandate.”
The Minister however admitted that there is no dispute on the actual landing cost and the added ancillary charges related to logistics and operational issues for the operators.
He said the template on pricing is being reviewed with the aim of helping to accommodate final sale of the pump at N145 per litre, adding that there is no room for multiple price fixing by marketers to fix price.
Kachikwu, said: “What we have approved was a modulation between N135 per litre and N145. There is no authorization to modulate outside the N135-N145 bracket.