Less than 24 hours after it announced the price of petrol from N162 to N212, The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has debunked media reports that it has increased the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
The agency said there is no way it could have announced an increase in the price of the product, knowing that there is an ongoing discussion between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour on the deregulation policy.
The agency had, in the early hours of today, released a template (which it has since deleted) for the month of March in which it indicated that the pump price of the products may be between N209.61 and N212.61.
The template generated negative public reactions, just as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) declared that they were not aware of increase in the ex-depot price of petrol.
Reacting to the media reports on the purported increment in the pump price of petrol, PPPRA, in a release on Friday afternoon, said what it posted on its website were “Guiding Prices” merely indicative of current market trends and not an increase in the pump price of PMS.
The agency, in the release signed its Executive Secretary, Abdulkadir Saidu, said the various media publications were misconstrued and also misleading.
“The attention of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has
been drawn to speculations about the increased pump price of PMS.
“The PPPRA, by this release, wishes to state clearly that the Guiding Prices posted on our website was only indicative of current market trends and do not translate to any increase in pump price of PMS.
“However, publications by the media to this effect have been misconstrued and thus misleading.
“The Agency wishes to remind the general public of the introduction of the Market-Based Pricing Regime for PMS Regulation 2020, as gazetted by the Federal Government.
“Based on this regulation, prices are expected to be determined by market realities in line with the dictates of market forces.
“One of the conditions for the implementation of the Market-Based Pricing Regime for PMS Regulation 2020 is the monthly release of Guiding Price to reflect current market fundamentals.
“The PPPRA, in line with its mandate to maintain constant surveillance over all key indices relevant to pricing policy, monitors market trends on a daily basis to determine Guiding Prices.
“The Agency is not unaware of the challenges with the supply of PMS due to some concerns leading NNPC to be the sole importer of PMS.
“PPPRA is also mindful of the current discussion going on between the government and the Organised Labour on the deregulation policy.
“While consultation with relevant stakeholders is ongoing, PPPRA does not fix or announce prices and therefore there is no price increase. The current PMS price is being maintained while consultations are being concluded.
“Even though market fundamentals for PMS in the past few months indicated upward price trends, the pump price has remained the same and we are currently monitoring the situation across retail outlets nationwide.
“While assuring the public of adequate products supply as the average PMS Day-Sufficiency as of March 11, 2021 is over 35 days, the PPPRA pledges to continue to perform its statutory function in ensuring that the downstream sector remains vibrant
as well as support both government and members of the public,” the release stated.
Leave a Reply