. Ask NMDPRA, DSS to enforce regulated price
The House of Representatives, yesterday, directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, to end the current petrol scarcity crisis within seven days.
The House also charged the Nigerian Midstream, Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Department of State Security (DSS), and the Nigeria Police to shut down filling stations that are selling above the official pump price.
The legislators passed the resolution during a plenary session on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, sponsored by Saidu Abdullahi.
This follows the expiration of the DSS 48-hour ultimatum issued last Thursday to NNPC and oil marketers to resolve the on-going petrol distribution crisis caused by hoarding, which resulted in reduction in the unwieldy fuel queues.
The NNPC and marketers have indulged in blame games on the causes of the lingering fuel scarcity, especially of premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, which has affected businesses, and made commuting difficult.
Intelligence reports on current fuel scarcity gathered by our securities 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…
However, Abdullahi insisted that the current scarcity is due to a deliberate plan by some oil marketers to maximise profit by distorting supply, describing it as “artificial”.
He said this has caused “untold hardships” on Nigerians “affecting economic activities and making the already trying times in the country more difficult.”
He said: “Intelligence reports on current fuel scarcity gathered by our securities 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 and thereby creating artificial scarcity all over the country.
“While the fuel scarcity is heating petroleum stations of some major marketers that are currently selling fuel at government regulated price, some independent marketers who operate in the market have enough petroleum products selling at unregulated prices.
“Most of those fuelling stations have resulted in selling fuel at over N300 per litre. It is observed with dismay that those who are gaining from this artificial fuel scarcity appear to be smiling home as a result of this ugly development and this has the potency to provoke innocent Nigerians against the government.
“Generally, there is a hue and cry over this ugly development and unfortunately, those that are charged with the responsibility of taking control of this situation are not doing enough to combat the ugly development. This appears to be a dangerous signal that the government must tackle without further delay to restore normalcy.”
Following the adoption of the motion, after the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who presided over the session, put the motion to vote, the lawmakers asked the NMDPRA to collaborate with the Police and DSS, to ensure that petrol is sold at the regulated price and in all retail outlets.
The House therefore mandated the Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Legislative Compliance, to ensure compliance.
