Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday met with the minister of state, petroleum Heineken Lokpobiri, the group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Mele Kyari and the national security adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu over the increase of petrol pump price and the scarcity of the product in different parts of the country.
Shettima convened the meeting on the instruction of President Bola Tinubu who is in China on the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
Also at the meeting was the executive director of Nigeria Mainstream, Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Kalu Okuoha.
Mr Lokpobiri told journalists after the meeting, “We were summoned by the vice president who was directed by Mr. President to summon this meeting and we have been with him to brief him about what is going on across the country.
“The vice president summoned us and we’ve been with him to brief him about what is going on across the country. And what is important is for us to convey to Nigerians that the president is empathetic about what is going on in the country. He is concerned about the hardship of Nigerians, and that was why he directed the vice president to call this meeting, for us to reflect on what is going on in the country.
“What is important is that products are available in the country, and we believe that between now and the weekend, there will be availability of products across the length and breadth of the country.
“The price could be high in some other areas, much higher in some other locations, and in some locations, much more than you know other areas.
“But we believe that by the time there is availability of products across the country, the price itself will stabilise.
“But 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 Nigeria to know.”
Okuoha said efforts are being made to ensure supply is stabilised.
