The lingering fuel scarcity across the country took another dimension on Monday as frustrated Nigerians stormed Abuja in protest over the situation.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The lingering fuel scarcity across the country took another dimension on Monday as frustrated Nigerians stormed Abuja in protest over the situation.
The protest led by the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria, was intended to push the federal government to act in response to the scarcity.
Convener of the group, Comrade Aminu Abbas in a rally held at the Abuja Unity Fountain on Monday blamed the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari for the unfortunate development.
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Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “We are tired of hearing stories about our refineries”, No direction, Kyari is just drifting with the wind”, “We want accountability in the affairs of NNPCL”.
The coalition while decrying the state of disrepair of the refineries, alleged sabotage of local refineries, claiming that the situation has gone from bad to worse, with no end in sight.
“Why do we, the people, have to endure endless queues, inflated prices, and the daily uncertainty of whether we can fuel our vehicles or power our homes? The answer lies in the gross incompetence and mismanagement.
“We ask: what has Kyari done to alleviate this crisis? Where are the solutions? Why are our refineries, which should be the backbone of our fuel supply, still in disrepair?
The protest comes on the heels of fears that the end may not be in sight for scarcity of petroleum products especially the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, as the NNPC Limited, has admitted owing its petrol suppliers a substantial amount.
NNPC made the disclosure on Sunday in a release by its Chief Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye.
It was gathered that the debt which has risen to $6 billion has seen suppliers reduce the volume given to the Nigerian national oil company. The short in supply has led to a six-week long petrol scarcity across the country.
Soneye in the statement said the debt has posed a significant financial strain on NNPC operations.
The Abuja protest is taking place barely three weeks after youths in the country took to the streets in protest over hunger and high cost of living. The organisers of the protest have fixed October for another phase of the exercise.
