BY TUNDE THOMAS
The on-going fuel scarcity being experienced in different parts of the country appears to be getting worse despite the insistence by the Federal Government and the NNPC that fuel imports into the country in the last few days have been increased to tackle the scarcity.
With less than 48 hours to the January 1st New Year celebrations, there appears to be no respite for Nigerians who from all indications may have a repeat of the ugly experience of sleeping at filling stations while looking for elusive fuel during the Christmas celebrations.
To add more to the pains and anxiety of Nigerians,it has been a blame game galore between the Federal Government, NNPC, and the fuel marketers.
Speaking on the development, eminent Nigerians including activists who spoke with SATURDAY SUN described the on-going fuel scarcity in the country as not only embarrassing but also a shame.
In his view, former President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, it is a big shame that an oil producing nation like Nigeria is experiencing fuel scarcity. “How do we explain it that a prominent member of OPEC, an oil producing nation like Nigeria is experiencing fuel scarcity. It is not only unacceptable but also very embarrassing’’, he declared.
While imploring the Federal Government to take urgent measures to sanitise the oil and gas sector, Summonu urged President Buhari to do everything possible to ensure that the nation’s near comatose four refineries are operating optimally.
While also not ruling out possibility of sabotage by oil marketers, Sunmonu said ’’The possibility of sabotage by oil marketers can’t also be ruled out in spite of denials by their members. Any marketer found to be involved in shady and unhealthy practices should be punished’’.
For Dr Fredrick Fasheun, founder ,Oodua Peoples Congress,OPC,the present scarcity should be laid squarely at the doorstep of President Buhari.
‘’Buhari laid the foundation for this crisis which has become recurring.Nigerians would have been saved the agony of fuel scarcity every year if Buhari had appointed a substantive Minister for Petroleum Resources.Buhari’s hands are already full,why add the Petroleum portfolio to his tight schedule?If there has been a Minister fully in charge of that Ministry all the chaos and anarchy being witnessed in that sector would have been averted”, Fasheun declared.
However while exonerating President Buhari from any blame,former Commissioner of Police,Lagos state,Alhaji Abubakar Tsav accused oil marketers of sabotaging government’s efforts.
‘’I strongly believe that it is saboteurs that are at work. There is lot of fuel in several filling stations across the country but oil marketers are hoarding the fuel. Politicians in this country are terrible people.My advise however is that these people should not play politics with peoples welfare.They want to embarrass the Federal Government by potraying Buhari in bad light’’, he declared. Tsav who urged President Buhari to appoint a substantive Minister for Petroleum Resources,also enjoined government to expedite action on the proposed turn-around-maintainnace of the nation’s four refineries. According to Tsav, these two major suggestions if carried out will help to stabilize the oil and gas sector.
On his own part, Chief Henry Ajomale, Chairman Conference of All Progressives Congress, APC states chairmen assured Nigerians that everything is being done by the Federal Government to address the fuel scarcity challenge.
‘’President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of his words.He has given orders and directives to all relevant agencies including the NNPC to ensure that normalcy is restored.I enjoin Nigerians to exercise patience.This current challenge will soon be over’’,he declared.
… Senate kicks
The on-going scarcity nightmare had brought back to the front burner the issue of fuel subsidy, whose removal now seems to be easier said than done.
The Senate, on Dec 28 had kicked against the Federal Government for allegedly subsidising the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol by N26 per litre to measure up to N171 landing cost of the product per litre officially regulated at N145 per litre.
The subsidy regime––divulged by the NNPC boss last week––was supposedly introduced to bridge the difference between N145 and N171 and invariably prevent scarcity of the product or exorbitant price increase by sellers.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa vowed to stop the illegal subsidy regime which according to him was not in any way appropriated for.
According to him, the NNPC and other stakeholders in the sector owe Nigerians explanation regarding how they arrived at the alleged subsidy payment more than a year after its stoppage.
“There is complacency in the sector and sharp practices that must be stopped. They want to take us back to subsidy regime that has never been beneficial to ordinary Nigerians across the country,” Marafa fumed. “We cannot go back to such scam called regime which robbed the country N10 trillion between 2006 and 2016.”
The transparency in governance which the government started with in 2015 must be strictly adhered to with regard to the importation of fuel is concerned, he said.
According to him, while the previous government swapped exported crude for imported refined PMS, the present government has been using a more transparent model of direct sale of crude oil and direct purchase of refined product.