The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday, begged Nigerians to exercise patience over the tortuous challenge of petrol scarcity, assuring that efforts were on to end the problem and avoid a repeat of it.
Sylva’s apology was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Adviser, Media & Communications,Horatius Egua.
The minister reckoned that Nigerians in recent weeks have grappled with fuel scarcity, not because of the absence of supply of products but due to inspection failure and regulatory negligence, which allowed adulterated products into the country.
“This is regrettable, and the Federal Government sympathises with the citizenry over the unforeseen hardship, occasioned by the inevitable scarcity. Let me once again appeal to Nigerians to be patient with the government in finding lasting solutions to the crisis.
“We appreciate the NNPC for showing so much concern to the plight of Nigerians by coming forward with an apology. This is unprecedented and shows that we on the government side are not afraid to take responsibility. The Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has been out on the streets, filling station by filling station to ensure that the situation normalizes quickly and we are beginning to see the fruits of their efforts”, Sylva stated.
He added that while the ugly development (scarcity) was regrettable, it is a time that calls for collective action to save a situation that was not foreseen.
“It is not a time to trade blames as is customary in Nigeria. It is therefore not a time to query anyone but a time to come together to salvage the plight of the average Nigerian.
“After the storm settles there will be time enough to investigate and get to the bottom, so that this does not repeat itself.
“Mr. President’s charge to all parties and agencies concerned is to work together to ensure that normalcy returns quickly. The Nigerian people deserve the best and President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is determined to set the country on the right path of petroleum products availability and sustainability, as demonstrated in the award of the contracts for the rehabilitation of all our refineries and the acquisition of stake in the Dangote Refinery. Let us as Nigerians stand shoulder to shoulder in our shared quest for a greater country”, the minister added.
However, it was observed, that fuel queues have substantially thinned out in various parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday.
The development seems to be a confirmation of government’s assurances that fuel queues would gradually disappear from the weekend when 3.2billion litres of safe petrol imported is injected into the domestic market.
A lot of filling stations that were hitherto out of stock for weeks were seen selling petrol to motorists.
From Kubwa to Maitama and the Central area, queues that hitherto snaked close to a kilometre had shrunk to just a few metres.
An NNPC source disclosed that the queues will eventually disappear within this week when more oil marketers take delivery of the right specification of petrol.
The development is a soothing relief to the two weeks of product scarcity nightmare motorists and consumers have been subjected to.
It was observed that consumers preferred patronising outlets of major oil marketers for fear of not buying remnants of contaminated petrol.
Excited motorists, who spoke with newsmen, hoped the situation was improved for good, so they can stop sleeping in filling stations to buy petrol.
But in Port Harcourt, the situation has not shown any sign of abating, as most filling stations had their gates completely shut to customers, yesterday.
Some of the major stations, TOTAL, CONOIL, LIQUID BULK, RESTOPARK, OANDO, MRS, ETERNA OIL, and many others on Port Harcourt-Aba Road, Rumuomasi-Elekahia Road, Old Aba Road, were not open to customers.
Some motorists, who spoke to The Tide, complained that they were having a hard time trying to source for fuel to keep their vehicles on the road.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 25 civil society organisations of northern extraction under Coalition of Concerned Northern Forum, yesterday, called for the resignations of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari; and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed over lingering fuel crisis across the country.
The coalition, which drew strength from members within and outside the country, condemned the current scarcity of petroleum products across the nation which has subjected Nigerians to avoidable social-economic crises.
To this coalition, the said scarcity was aimed at embarrassing the current administration by its enemies and unpatriotic elements within the government.
In a statement, the Chairman and Spokesperson, Concerned Northern Forum,Ibrahim Bature;and Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem; respectively, asked the Federal Government to identify all households and motorists in the north who have been affected by the adulterated product imported into the country a few weeks ago before the recall.
According to them, “NNPC in connivance with un-recognised, un-licensed or faceless importers and relevant agencies that have to do with the importation of petroleum products are dragging us backwards due to their deliberate errors.
“NNPC’s quality inspection unit which comprises GMO, SGS, Geochem and G&G did not conduct any test before the said products were discharged.
“The above units are saddle with the responsibilities of ensuring that the products are not above our required standard, yet the same unit has up till date equipment at her disposal with adequate funding for such tasks.
“Therefore, the NNPC’s GMD, Mallam Mele Kyari, and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, should tender their resignation with immediate effect for negatively breaking the record of the current administration over persistent fuel scarcity.
“NNPC management should make public genuine and comprehensive names of those involved in this national scandal and embarrassment”.
The coalition, however, threatened to occupy all NNPC zonal offices and its subsidiaries across the northern region and the FCT if its demands were not met in the next three working days.
“This is not just a mere threat, we will follow up with full action after the expiration of our ultimatum and this will serve as a litmus test on the part of the government on its fight against corruption and indiscipline”, the coalition said.