Senate Gives NNPC 7 Days Ultimatum To End Fuel Scarcity

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The Senate has given a 7-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to end the persistent fuel scarcity and long queues in filling station across the country.

The move by the lawmakers on Thursday at the plenary came after the house unanimously adopted the report of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) on the fuel crisis in the country.

The report presented by its Chairman, Sen. Kabiru Marafa, the committee emphasized that the security agencies should ensure effective border patrol to check diversion of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

It also urged the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) to intensify its effort to ensure compliance with government’s regulated pump price of petroleum products.

The report said, “During our recess, the committee moved around some cities, including Abuja and Lagos, to ascertain the situation on ground.

“When we thought that we were making progress, we just realised that the queues were resurfacing in fuel stations.

“We also engaged with the NNPC and other stakeholders and we were informed that there were challenges of supply coupled with massive smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries for higher prices.

“Also, there is the problem of marketers selling above approved pump price.”