Fuel Scarcity: Senate To Embark On Nationwide Filling Stations Inspection

Senate set to conduct nationwide inspection.

The Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream says it will embark on nationwide inspection of filling stations over looming fuel scarcity in the country.

The chairman of the committee, Kabiru Marafa, disclosed this in a news briefing on Tuesday in Abuja after an investigative hearing on the matter.

He said that though the senate had adjourned to commence budget defence, members of the committee would take time out to embark on a rigorous oversight, adding that members of the committee will be regrouped into sub-committees to make the visit to all the states feasible.

“First things first; the welfare of Nigerians especially in this season is that a lot of them will be travelling to reunite with their love ones is paramount. We will take time out to embark on a serious oversight. We will break into sub-committees to be able to cover the entire country.

“We have already mandated the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to furnish us with the daily distribution. This is to enable the sub-committees to be armed with detailed evidence of which filling station was given what quantity of fuel.

“We will also get these details from the filling stations to ascertain when last they got supplies and the quantity sold. We will not stop at that. We will also inspect tanks in filling stations to ensure that Nigerians are not taken advantage of,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the committee has invited the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, to appear before it on Thursday, having failed to appear on Tuesday.

“Immediately the issue came up, we contacted NNPC to know the situation of things and we were told that the rumours were unfounded and that they have written rejoinders to that effect.

“However, given the seriousness of the matter, we decided to invite the GMD to come and brief on the development and to enable Nigerians know the situation of things.

“Unfortunately he wrote informing us of his inability to honour the invitation. We hope he will be back by Thursday to tell Nigerians the true situation. Even if he cannot make it he can send people that are in good authority to speak on his behalf.

“There is an Executive Director in charge of Downstream who oversees the downstream generally. There is also the Managing Director of Petroleum and Product Marketing Company.

“So, whatever it is by next tomorrow we will be able to tell Nigerians what the situation is like and what the Senate is going to do in the event of any eventuality,’’ he said.

He assured that the senate would work with relevant agencies of government to sanction any filling station found hoarding fuel and inflicting suffering on Nigerians.