Amidst scarcity of petroleum products, particularly petrol in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and some states across the country, a major player in the sector, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, (NUPENG) has called on
the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) not to relent in its efforts to ease the suffering of vehicle owners at retail outlets and commuters.
The National Chairman of the Petroleum and Tanker Drivers’, (PTD) branch
of NUPENG, Salmon Oladiti made the admonition yesterday in Abuja.
The federal government at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting last Wednesday in Abuja had expressed concern over the scarcity. Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed had disclosed that the government directed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to put an end to the fuel shortage last weekend.
Kachikwu at a separate briefing said his Ministry had instructed the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, (PPPRA) and the Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR) to ensure monitoring of supply and distribution of the products.
The scarcity has since eased substantially in Lagos state and its environs, but long queues at retail outlets persist in the FCT and states in the Northern part of the country.
But speaking with journalists in Abuja, Comrade Oladiti said his men were ready to assist the NNPC to ensure speedy movement of petroleum products from the depots to retail outlets to end the sufferings of Nigerians at the receiving end of the present shortfall in supply.
He further noted that there has been an improvement in the supply chain from the depots.
He said: “Now that petrol is gradually available, we are ready to lift and ensure its availability.
“We don’t want Nigerians to go back to the era of artificial scarcity. We are ready to make sacrifices to ensure that lifting at the depots by our members improve.’’
Oladiti said his members are willing to make sacrifices during the festive period to complement the NNPC management resolve of 24 hours loading and distribution at the depots till the situation normalises.
The NUPENG boss however appealed to the federal government to implement to the letter its comprehensive project of revitalization of the refineries and depots across the country.”
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