In response to the recent resurgence of fuel queues and arbitrary increases in the price of petrol across the country, the House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) have called on security agencies to crack down on fuel marketers engaged in such activities.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday by the Chairmen of the two committees, Ikenga Ugochinyere and Henry Okojie, the lawmakers emphasized the need to address the issue of fuel scarcity and ensure the smooth distribution of petroleum products.
The committees revealed that they have been in extensive discussions with stakeholders in the petroleum distribution value chain, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
Their investigations have uncovered that there is an adequate supply of petrol, with approximately 1.5 billion litres of petrol available in storage facilities, sufficient to last for 30 days.
However, logistical challenges, such as difficulties in transporting products from vessels to onshore facilities and disruptions in marine shuttle vessel movements, have contributed to the resurgence of fuel queues.
Assuring the public that these logistical issues have been addressed, the committees stated that the scarcity of petrol would soon be resolved in the coming days.
Expressing concern over economic sabotage, the lawmakers urged security agencies to collaborate with key stakeholders in the distribution value chain to detect and combat acts such as hoarding, arbitrary price increases, product diversion, and smuggling.
The committees reiterated their commitment to ensuring the availability and affordability of petroleum products for Nigerians and called for collective efforts to prevent disruptions in the distribution network.
They emphasized the importance of effective collaboration between government agencies and stakeholders to maintain stability in the petroleum sector and mitigate the impact of fuel scarcity on the populace.
