the Federal Government is blaming the high cost of petroleum products in some parts of the country on marketers who now engage in profiteering.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva disclosed this to State house correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber yesterday.

The minister maintains that petroleum products are not in short supply but the challenge, he notes, is the distribution of the products, a problem he says the government is working to resolve.

In a question and answer session, the minister notes that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has agreed to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure adequate provision of petroleum products during the exercise.

Sylva also announced that FEC approved the award of contract for the construction of the Oloibiri Oil Museum and Research Centre to Messrs Julius Berger Plc, at the sum of 117 billion naira to be completed within a 300-month period.v