NNPC threatens to move against filling stations hoarding fuel
- The federal government has adopted a measure to tackle the artificial scarcity of petroleum products in some parts of the country
- Dr. Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has being directed to seal stations found hoarding products.
- Baru attributed the artificial scarcity of fuel to the activities of corrupt marketers
To tackle the artificial scarcity of petroleum products in some parts of the country, Dr. Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Tuesday, December 12, said the federal government would adopt an “aggressive measure.”
NAIJ.com gathered that Baru said part of the approach is the directive to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) seal stations found hoarding products.
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Baru gave the warning in Ibefun, Ogun State,during the inauguration of 300 million litres tank farm sited in the community by Petrolex Mega Oil City.
The NNPC GMD attributed the artificial scarcity of fuel to the activities of unscrupulous marketers who he accused of hoarding the product.
He said: “We must have noticed the sudden return of fuel queues in some parts of the country last week; this is unfortunately attributable to the activities of some independent marketers who are hoarding the product in anticipation of perceived (increase in) price of petroleum product.
“We’ve said it time and time that the government and NNPC has no intention of increasing the price of petroleum at this moment.
“Moving forward however, DPR will be more aggressive in curtailing this menace by sealing any petrol station found hording petroleum products. The products will be dispensed to motorists free of charge, so be on notice.”
NAIJ.com previously reported that amidst the scarcity of petroleum products, particularly Premium Motor Spirit popularly called fuel in the FCT and some states in the northern region, NUPENG has called on the management of the NNPC not to relent in its efforts to ease the suffering of vehicle owners at retail outlets.
The national chairman of the Petroleum and Tanker Drivers’ (PTD) branch of NUPENG, Comrade Salmon Oladiti, made the appeal on Tuesday, December 12, in Abuja.
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The federal government had directed the minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to put an end to the fuel shortage last week, but the scarcity seems to be biting hard in Abuja and environs.
Fuel scarcity: This is getting too much for us - Nigerians lament - on NAIJ.com TV.
Source: Naija.ng