By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – President Mohammadu Buhari is handicapped over the increase in the price of premium motor spirit, PMS, Vice President, Yemi Osinabjo has said.

Seemingly rising in defence of the president amid the backlash of angry feelings among many Nigerians caused by the all-time drastic increase, Osinabjo said that though the president was opposed to the new price initially, he had no choice than to accept the change.

According to him, the decision was necessary if the country must source for foreign exchange to import fuel.

In any case, the Vice President said that even if the local refineries were resuscitated, the country would still need to import product as they would only run at 40 percent capacity.

Osinbajo spoke Tuesday in Abuja at the public presentation of a book titled “Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges & Solutions, a collection of essays”, edited by a renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Yusuf Ali.

This is not the first time, the office of the Vice President would be exonerating the president from the hike.