The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has exonerated itself and the Federal Government from the current fuel crisis in the country occasioned by new petrol pump prices, stating that foreign exchange (forex) illiquidity has been a significant factor influencing the fluctuation in prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol, which are governed by unrestricted free market forces, as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
The Executive Vice President of Downstream, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Adedapo Segun, who disclosed this while speaking on TVC News ‘Journalists’ Hangout’ on Thursday, explained that the current fuel scarcity was expected to “subside in a few days as more stations recalibrate and begin selling PMS.”
We’ve Supplied 30m Barrels Of Crude Oil To Dangote Refinery — NNPCL
He said Section 205 of the PIA, which established NNPC Ltd., stipulated that petroleum prices were determined by unrestricted free market forces.
According to him, “The market has been deregulated, meaning that petrol prices are now determined by market forces rather than by the government or NNPC Ltd. Additionally, the exchange rate plays a significant role in influencing these prices.”
On the commencement of lifting PMS from the Dangote Refinery, Segun said that the NNPC Ltd. was awaiting the September 15 timeline provided by the Refinery.
The NNPCL executive, who said no right-thinking individual would be comfortable with the current fuel scarcity, added that the oil compnay has nearly a thousand filling stations nationwide and was collaborating with marketers to “ensure that stations open early, close late, in order to maintain adequate fuel supply to meet the needs of Nigerians.”
He assured Nigerians: “We are also engaging relevant authorities to ensure products diversions are prevented and timely deliveries to all stations are ensured. The scarcity should ease in the next few days as more stations recalibrate and begin operations.”