Reno Omokri, Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico and former presidential aide, has issued a stern response to critics over the recent increase in petrol prices, urging Nigerians to adopt a more informed perspective on the issue.
In a series of statements shared on his official X handle, Omokri addressed what he described as widespread misinformation and emotional reactions surrounding fuel pricing.
The former presidential aspirant drew attention after being spotted purchasing petrol in the United States, an incident that attracted significant attention on social media.
However, Omokri used the opportunity to provide a detailed explanation of how the pricing of premium motor spirit (PMS) is determined, emphasizing that the process is governed by economic and technical factors rather than political or social considerations.
According to Omokri, the cost of petrol is primarily influenced by the expenses associated with refining crude oil, the main raw material for PMS.
He criticized assumptions linking fuel prices directly to the national minimum wage, describing such beliefs as “mental laziness” and a misunderstanding of how global oil markets and domestic pricing mechanisms function.