Rowdy Scene As House holds Special Session On Petrol Price Increase

The Minister was invited to brief lawmakers on the situation in the petroleum sector.

But the PDP lawmakers waved the National flag, singing protest songs and were hell bent on not allowing the Minister entry into the Representatives’ chamber.

Dr. Kachikwu on May 11 announced a new price band of 145 Naira per litre of petrol, linking the hike to the difficulty in getting foreign exchange and the inability of the nation’s refineries to produce at optimum capacity to cushion scarcity that has lasted for over five months.

He said that the deregulation of the sector would promote competition which he believes will force the price down within the next six months.

But critics said the increase from from 86.50 Naira to 145 Naira would cause further hardship.

The lawmakers, who were on recess had convened a special session to question the Minister on the decision of the government to hike price at a period the nation was facing its worse petrol scarcity crisis.

 source:channels