The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has advised motorists to stop panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol saying it has no plan to increase the ex-depot price in March.
NNPC disclosed in a statement by its spokesman, Dr Kennie Obateru, in Abuja on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ex-depot price is the price at which depot owners sell products to marketers.
The price determines how much marketers will sell to motorists at their various fuel stations.
“Contrary to speculations of imminent increase in the price of PMS in the country, the NNPC has ruled out any increment in the ex-depot price of petrol in March.
“The corporation was not contemplating any rise in the price of petrol in March in order not to jeopardize ongoing engagements with organised labour and other stakeholders on an acceptable framework that will not expose the ordinary Nigerian to any hardship,” he said .
NAN reports that most fuel stations in the Federal Capital Territory are currently not selling product while queues are seen in few that are dispenses to motorists.
Obateru also cautioned petroleum products marketers not to engage in arbitrary price increase or hoarding of petrol in order not to create artificial scarcity and unnecessary hardship for Nigerians.
He added that corporation had enough stock of petrol to keep the nation well supplied for over 40 days and urged motorists to avoid panic buying.
He further called on relevant regulatory authorities to step up monitoring of the activities of marketers with a view to sanctioning those involved in products hoarding or arbitrary increase of pump price.(NAN)
APC chieftain urges security agencies to end kidnappings of children
Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah, a former Interim National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged security agencies to deplore all the required resources to put an end to kidnapping of innocent children for ransom.
Tumsah, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, expressed shock and sadness over the Friday abduction of hundreds of
schoolgirls in Jangebe, Zamfara.
The APC chieftain said it was disturbing that the incident happened at a time that the Zamfara Government was pursuing peace deal with repentant bandits.
He said the recurring incidence of school abductions and killings by bandits call for a multi-pronged approach to ending the insecurity ravaging the country.
He demanded immediate and safe release of the schoolgirls and those involved in the act should be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“The kidnapping of school children in their dormitories will, no doubt, negatively affect learning as no meaningful academic activities can take place in an unsecure environment.
“Attacks on schools may also discourage some parents from sending their kids to school and the consequence of having a generation without proper education can be best imagined than experienced,” he said.
The APC chieftain, therefore, urged government at all levels to ensure that academic institutions are well secured to prevent attacks. (NAN)
