[Mhiz Rebecca]

The House of Representatives on Monday, critized the
current pricing system of premium motor spirit by the
Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA),
describing it as “fraudulent”.
The lawmakers insisted that Nigerians should not buy
petrol for more than N70 per litre.
The
arguments were canvassed when an ad hoc committee
of the House on the Review of Pump Price of Petrol,
opened a public hearing at the National Assembly in
Abuja.
The PPPRA, Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigerian
Customs Service officials were all quizzed by the
committee.
“In the 2017 budget, which is before us, PPPRA has a
proposal of another N500m for regulation, monitoring
and supply of petrol,” Chairman of the committee,
Nnana Igbokwe said.
“This budgetary provisions have already taken care of
the purpose for which you charge 30k on the template,
yet Nigerians continue to bear the burden by paying
N145 per litre,” Igbokwe added.
“This
has
left
Nigerians in a situation whereby they still pay for
lightening services for smaller vessels that go to
Cotonou or Lome to offload products from mother
vessels.
“PPPRA will then add the cost to the pump price and
ask Nigerians to pay,” Igbokwe added.