The Group Managing Director (GMD) Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mikanti Bari has revealed that President Muhamadu Buhari ordered the NNPC to subsidize petrol for Nigerians.
“What I am saying is that the landing cost as should be sold in the pump without under-recovery should be N171.40.”
“However Mr. President has directed that we should maintain all the parameters to ensure that it is sold at N145 per litre. And that is why we are selling at depot at N133.28.” He explained
Vice President Yemi Oshinbajo had told journalists in Lagos that NNPC and not the Federal Government was paying the N26 subsidy per litre of petrol.
His comment came on the heels of a statement made by the GMD of the corporation, Maikanti Baru, that the landing cost of petrol was now N171 as against the official pump price of N145 per litre, and that the Federal Government was paying N26 as subsidy on every litre of petrol imported to retain the pump price of N145.
Baru also blamed “greedy” marketers who, he said, chose to hoard the product after rumours of pump price increase emerged leading to the scarcity experienced in recent weeks.
These revelations have sparked reactions from Nigerians many claimed there were unaware the Government is still paying fuel subsidy also many are of the opinion that this was a ploy by the Government to increase the price of fuel from N145 to N185 and further cause excruciating pain on Nigerians.
It would be recalled that in May 2016, the Federal Government announced the removal of subsidy on petrol and went on to increase the pump price of petrol to N145 per litre.
Also in the 2017 budget of the Federal Government, provision was not made for the payment of fuel subsidy, so also that of 2018.
So where is the N26 they are subsidizing one litre of petrol with coming from? Nigerians queried. Is the Buhari-led administration spending funds not appropriated by the National
Assembly?
