FG Debunks El-Rufai’s Statement, Speaks On Returning Fuel Subsidy

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has debunked the claims by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, that the fuel subsidy has returned.

Recall that El-Rufai, while speaking with journalists after delivering the lead paper at a capacity-building workshop, in Maiduguri on Monday, said the government has started paying petrol subsidy.

“The federal government is now subsidizing fuel; many people don’t know this,” el-Rufai said.

However, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, in a video provided by his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, showed a moment where her boss reacted to the claims of the former Kaduna governor and marketers.

In the video, Lokpobiri said that claims alleging that fuel subsidy has been returned are false.

In the clip, Lokpobiri insisted that the petrol subsidy had ceased and urged those who alleged that the government was still subsidising the commodity to provide evidence and facts.

The minister said, “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.”

Asked whether the price being paid for petrol currently is 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.”