The Federal Government says it has not resumed payment of subsidy on petrol as claimed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai and some marketers.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, who made the clarification in a television interview, said ever since the president declared the subsidy regime over, it had remained so.
He challenged those making the allegation to provide evidence to justify their claims, noting that fuel subsidy is a sensitive issue, and the government had made its position known on the matter.
“I don’t want to delve into that issue. It is a very sensitive issue. It is better we get all the facts. As far as I’m concerned, the President removed the subsidy and it remains removed till today. Anybody who is saying that subsidy is being paid, it is left for the person to bring the facts and then we will talk about them,” Lokpobiri stated.
When probed further about the price being paid for petrol currently and whether it was determined by market forces, the minister replied, “It may not be determined by market forces but let us deal with the price as it is today.
“Every government has a duty to do certain things, not only in the petroleum sector but in several other sectors, to be able to cushion the effect and burden on Nigerians.”
The NNPC also said it was recovering its full cost on the petroleum products that it imports into Nigeria, and insisted that there was nothing like petrol subsidy any more.
NNPC is currently the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria.
