A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Umaru Dembo, has advised the Federal Government to reduce fuel prices across filling stations in the country to ease the hardship faced by Nigerians.
Alhaji Dembo gave the advice in Kaduna while reacting to reports that the price of crude oil in the international market had dropped to sixty dollars per barrel.
He expressed concern that over the years, reductions in crude oil prices had not translated into benefits for citizens, despite repeated calls to cushion the effects of oil subsidy removal.
The former Minister also stressed the need for the Federal Government to safeguard and support domestic refineries to boost operations and reduce the high cost of petroleum products caused by unpatriotic marketers.
Alhaji Dembo further expressed hope that the ongoing probe of the eighteen-billion-dollar oil revenue by the House of Representatives would achieve its purpose and ensure strict penalties for offenders.
INT/SULEIMAN KAURA
