Senate denies increasing fuel pump price….says Nigerians will not pay more than the current price
The Senate on Saturday denied report that the legislature plans to increase fuel pump price, explaining that Nigerians will not need to pay a kobo more than they do now for fuel and diesel.
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Works, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya, had made available the report of the proposed Bill for the rescue of Nigerian roads, of which 77 per cent is classified as dilapidated and dangerous.
The proposed bill had said as part of the measures to raise funds for the maintenance of roads, a N5 levy would be imposed on every litre of diesel and petrol imported into the country.
The Special Assistant to the Senate President on New Media, Mr. Bankole Omisore, in a statement on Saturday,
explained that at the public hearing on the National Roads Fund Bill, the stakeholders were unanimous on the need to access a percentage of the funds for sustainable maintenance of roads from the pricing template of petroleum products.
He said while the unanimity was on a percentage, opinions varied as to what percentage. “Some argued for 25, 11, 7 and 5 per cent of the value of the price of the product,” he noted.
Saraki’s aide pointed out that what the Senate adopted was “the minimalist approach to ensure that our roads can come back to life.”
