Fuel Price Fixing by NNPCL Is Illegal and Disrespectful, Says Falana

Falana was responding to the NNPCL’s apparent overnight price increase on Tuesday, which marked the second ad hoc assessment of the petrol price in less than two months after starting at a ballpark price of N185 in May.

Femi Falana, SAN, a human rights attorney, condemned Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for raising the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol, at the pump from approximately N500 to N617 per litre.

Falana was responding to the NNPCL’s apparent overnight price increase on Tuesday, which marked the second impromptu review of the price of petrol in less than two months after it was priced about N185 in May.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria underlined in a statement on Wednesday that President Bola Tinubu declared in his inauguration address in May that his administration will administer the nation in accordance with the rule of law.

He referenced a Federal High Court decision that stated that the Federal Government “must always fix the price of petroleum products sold throughout Nigeria” due to the combined effects of the Petroleum Act, Price Control Act, and Constitution.

He claims that the Federal Government appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal because it was unhappy with the ruling.

Falana stated that “the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited has usurped the power of the Federal Government to determine and fix the prices of petroleum products in the nation” even though the appeal has not yet been decided.

Since the Federal High Court’s decision on the matter has not been overturned by a higher court, it is obvious that the NNPCL’s actions are illegal and disrespectful.