The Presidency on Saturday denied that it had any plan to increase the pump prices of petroleum products.
The denial was made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, during the handing over ceremony of the mantle of leadership as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) at the authority’s headquarters in Lokoja.
It would be recalled that the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who is a strong critic of the Muhammadu Buhari administration had claimed that the current fuel scarcity was a ploy by the government to increase the pump prices of petroleum product.
He said the government knew that once the products were scarce, Nigerians would opt to buy them at whatever prices they were offered.
But speaking on the fuel scarcity, Mustapha said the claim was not true and that the problem was being addressed by relevant agencies.
READ ALSO: Traffic violation: FRSC impounds 5 vehicles in Ogun
Like the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru, Mustapha blamed the scarcity on the greed of some marketers.
His words: “I can assure the people that a day or two after the yuletide, the queue will ease out. The marketers created the scarcity but we have engaged all the relevant stakeholders and we are confident that it will soon normalise.
“We are not thinking about increase in the pump price. We have not discussed it and we will not increase the price.”
Speaking on NIWA, he thanked the staff for their cooperation and commitment to duty while he headed the authority.
He promised to remain an ambassador of the authority, pointing out that he was now in a better position to advance its cause.
