
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and other regulatory agencies have received a one week ultimatum from the House of Representatives to end the lingering fuel scarcity.
Abdullahi who noted that Nigerians have been subjected to untold hardships caused by the lingering petrol scarcity, further disclosed that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) advanced several excuses to justify the fuel scarcity.
He said;
“Soon after floods/rains receded in Lokoja and the petrol scarcity continued, the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said the situation persisted because of the supply gap created by the blockade in Lokoja. The IPMAN affirmed that there was enough product in the depots and that the lingering scarcity was only caused by the break in supply of the product.
“When the scarcity continued and all the excuses advanced by the stakeholders watered down, the National Operations Controller of IPMAN advanced another reason and argued that the scarcity is because of an unsteady supply of the products.
“Intelligence reports on current fuel scarcity gathered by our security agencies indicated that there is a deliberate plan by some oil marketers to derail the effort of the government in the distribution of fuel in the country by hoarding the petroleum products, thereby creating artificial scarcity all over the country”.
He said;
“The inability of the regulators of the petroleum sector to end this artificial scarcity of petroleum products forced the Department of State Security Services to issue an ultimatum to the NNPC, and oil marketers to end the artificial scarcity within 48-hours”.
The Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission was asked to collaborate with the Nigerian Police Force and DSS to ensure that fuel is sold at the regulated price and in all retail outlets.
The House Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Legislative Compliance was also asked to ensure compliance.
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