Fuel Scarcity: Lawmakers Mandate NNPC To Urgently Clear Queues Across Nigeria

The House of Representatives has mandated the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC to urgently clear the lingering fuel queues across the country.

This was contained in a Motion Of Urgent Public importance on the need for the NNPC Limited and other regulators in the Petroleum Industry to end the fuel scarcity across the Country.

The House resolved to invite the relevant regulatory authority to appear before the Leadership of the House of Representatives tomorrow Thursday, 26, January, 2023.

Honourable Leke Abejide, who sponsored the motion  noted that the NNPC Limited was the only importer of premium motor spirit, popularly called petrol, in the country and should urgently ease off these queues in Filling Stations.

The motion also urged the relevant Security Agencies to fish out those oil marketers and other economic saboteurs that may be responsible for the fuel scarcity across the country.

The motion reads “Also notes that the National Assembly has approved the money for the subsidy on the petroleum products so as to mitigate against unforeseen circumstances in the areas of shortages of the product; Recall that over three months there has been persistent scarcity of PMS in many parts of the country and the situation appears to be getting worse; Aware that there are uneven pump prices being dispensed by the Filling Stations across the country which fields speculations that government may have begun to remove subsidy on petrol; Also aware that there is the allegation of drop in petrol supply to marketers by private depots which is creating a dangerous mindset in the country; Concerned that the current fuel crisis across the country may worsen in the days ahead with the introduction of a N16.00 per liter charge”

The House is also concerned that another contributing factor to the scarcity of the product may not be unconnected with the increased cost of hiring daughter vessels in the hike in liter charges which hitherto were paid in Naira but now being charged in US Dollars.

“Further concerned that the scarcity is associated with saboteurs among some of the key stakeholders who deliberately manipulated the system; Worried that due to the scarcity Nigerians are exposed to all sorts of hardships which has resulted in a hike in transportation fares and high cost of some major food items. Also worried that as a result of petrol scarcity Nigerians are not finding it easy in their day-to-day livelihood activities,” it added.

The House therefore mandated the relevant House Committees to investigate the matter within 48 hours and report to the House.

Confidence Okwuchi