By Idowu Bankole

The Presidency has explained why government agencies cannot engage in the ongoing price dispute between Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery, citing the fact that both enterprises are private.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had revealed this to journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

but in a statement signed by Nnaamaka Okafor, Special Assistant to the Minister of Petroleum on media, says the Presidency corroborates the stand of the minister on the petroleum pricing feud between NNPCL and Dangote refinery. The ministry recalled that the “Honourable Minister for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri had stated shortly after a brief meeting he had earlier this month with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima that the price of petrol in the country could differ in various locations, but by the time there is the availability of products across the country, the price itself will be stabilised.”

“The Minister further stated that the sector is deregulated and therefore the government is not responsible for fixing prices.”

The statement also recalled that Lokpobiri had said: “What is important is that the government is not fixing prices. This sector is deregulated. And we believe that with the availability of products, the price will find its level. And this is important for Nigerians to know.”

“There is enough product in the country to be able to meet the demands of Nigerians, there should be no panic buying. And we also believe that Nigerians need to know that the government is not fixing prices. That is what I want to convey to Nigerians.”

Corroborating the minister Lokpobiri, while briefing the State House correspondents on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga also emphasized what the Minister for Petroleum Resources had said that both entities operate independently in a deregulated market.

He said under the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, NNPCL functions autonomously despite government ownership.

Onanuga said “The PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) field, the PMS regime, has been deregulated. Dangote is a private company. NNPCL should not forget it’s a limited liability company.

“Whatever controversy both of them are having is their problem. They are operating, even if you go by the terms of Petroleum Industry Act NNPCL is on its own, even though it’s owned by the federal government, the state government and local councils and everything, but it’s operating as a limited liability company.

“You can see what the private market has said that I think they find the NNPC or Dangote price too much for them. They will resolve to import fuel because they clear the market at the end of the day.

“It’s the consumer who benefits if a price war starts, if NNPC fuel is too much, the public market can go to the market and bring in their fuel and sell at the price that they think is very reasonable and profitable for them.

“So my answer is that, as far as this is concerned, the government is not dabbling into this controversy. Dangote as a private company is working on his own. NNPC is a limited liability company, and it has the right to fix the price of its own and so on.”

Onanuga said instead of intervening, the government plans to promote alternative energy solutions like Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, offering a cheaper option for consumers and subsidizing conversion costs for vehicles.

He noted that the price difference is significant, with CNG costing about N230 per litre equivalent compared to PMS at around N850 per litre.