Fuel Crisis: Group Condemns Petroleum Marketers over Hoarding

The lingering fuel crisis in Nigeria has been attributed to the nefarious activities of petroleum marketers who are hoarding the products to create artificial scarcity thereby sabotaging the efforts of government to make the premium motor spirit available to the citizenry in the country.

In a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by a pressure group, Peace and Media Advocacy jointly signed by the national Coordinator, Comrade James Okoronkwo and Secretary Mallam Usman Galadima respectively,

the lamented that the unpatriotic activities of major and independent petroleum marketers is thwarting the efforts of government to make petrol available in the fuelling stations nationwide.

PMAG stated that despite appreciation in the price of crude oil in the international market to about $65 per barrel and the shunning of petroleum importation by the oil marketers, the NNPC management led by the group managing Director (GMD), Dr Maikanti Baru is doing its best to make petroleum products available nationwide.

Continuing, the noted that the NNP’s concerted efforts to restore sanity in the supply and distribution of petroleum products was being jeopardized by certain cabals in the sector who allegedly are hoarding the product.

Okoronkwo said, “Some independent and major petroleum marketers are responsible for the current scarcity of petroleum products in Nigeria because they are hoarding and smuggling it across the borders.”

The group commended the NNPC for deploying proactive measures to arrest the current fuel crisis in the country.

PMAG stated that recently, the NNPC was vindicated by the stoppage of the smuggling of over 100 trucks loaded with petroleum products in Kano.

They also gave kudos to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for bursting an illegal fuel dump in Abuja, and enjoined all Nigerians to cooperate with the government by giving useful information to arrest the unpatriotic activities of the economic saboteurs who for selfish reasons are responsible for the biting fuel crisis.

Furthermore, the group lauded the NNPC for increasing the contribution of both the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to about 61 million liters adding that the Corporation has been the sole importer of petroleum for the past one year.

Also, they urged the government to wield the big stick on marketers alleged to be sabotaging the genuine efforts of the Buhari administration to arrest the ongoing crisis.