The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, on Thursday promised the National Economic Council, consisting of state governors, that the fuel scarcity being witnessed in parts of the country would end within 48 hours.
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of a meeting of the council presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Obaseki quoted the minister as saying that there was enough fuel in the nation’s strategic reserves.
The governor said, “We discussed the issue of fuel supply. As you know, there have been challenges of fuel supply in the country. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources assured the council that within the next 48 hours, fuel supply would be restored nationwide because there is enough fuel in our strategic reserves.
“He said the ministry had released fuel from the reserves and he expected distribution would reach all parts of the country within the next 48 hours.”
Obaseki also said in order to have alliance with states, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, had decided to organise a retreat for secretaries to state governments across the country.
He said the retreat would hold between December 18 and 19 and implored all governors to ensure that all SSGs attend the retreat.
He said, “The retreat is part of the SGF’s strategies to galvanise the government. He has called for this retreat for all the Secretaries to State Governments.
“The principal purpose is to begin to align the Federal Government’s policies with those of states, to ensure that there is coordination; to reduce waste as much as possible and create that synergy, which is required from the states, so that policies of government can be implemented faster and understood better.”
