The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, says the increase in fuel prices as announced by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) on their website site is ‘untrue’.

In a press statement signed by the minister, he assured Nigerians that neither him or the president made the approval that the pump price should be sold to customers at N212 per liter.

“I want to assure you that it is completely untrue. Neither Mr. President who is the Minister of Petroleum Resources, nor my humble self who deputise for him as Minister of State, has approved that the pump price of petrol should be increased by one naira. I would therefore urge you to disregard this misleading information,” the statement reads.

The PPPRA on Thursday made a publication which was later taken down from the website that there will be an increase in fuel prices from N186 to N212 which contradicts the NNPC claims on its Twitter page, assuring customers that the fuel prices have not been increased.

People Gazette reported how some petrol stations in the country immediately implemented the said increase, promptly dispensing fuel at N212 per litre on Friday.

The petrol pump price hike caused widespread uproar across the country. Many have accused President Buhari of not keeping to his campaign promises.

Some social commentators reminded Mr. Buhari that fuel sold for N87 per liter when he assumed power in 2015 but fuel price has been changed for the10th time in a space of six years under his administration.

Mr. Sylvia explained that the Buhari administration was not deceiving Nigerians on the pricing of the essential commodity, holding that there are ongoing conversations with the labour unions and the outcome will be revealed soon.

“Cynicism and deceit have never been the trademark of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. I would like to equally assure you that the engagement with organized labour and other stakeholders will continue even as the calculations to arrive at a reasonable price regime are being done; all in good faith, and you will be availed of the final outcome at the appropriate time,” Mr. Sylva said.

The minister maintained that marketers are advised to sell at the current pump price, without taking advantage of the situation to extort citizens because the government will hesitate to sanction those involved.

“All marketers are strongly advised to maintain the current pump price of PMS before the emergence of this unfortunate information,” the minister charged. ” Those who may want to take advantage of this unfortunate misinformation to extort Nigerians should not give in to such temptation as there are regulatory mechanisms that the government can enforce to protect its citizens.”