The House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Downstream and Midstream have assured Nigerians that the long queues witnessed at fuel stations across the country will soon be a thing of the past, stating that the situation will be resolved “in a couple of days.”
In a joint press conference held at the National Assembly Complex, the Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Ikenga Ugochinyere, and his Petroleum Midstream Committee counterpart, Odianosen Okojie, attributed the fuel scarcity to hoarding by certain individuals.
The committee heads emphasized that despite the challenges faced by transport vessels, fuel availability is not the issue, and hoarders are exploiting the temporary disruption in supply to inflate prices and maximize profits.
Ugochinyere condemned the actions of middlemen who exploit the situation for personal gain at the expense of the public, urging law enforcement agencies to apprehend any marketers found engaging in hoarding practices.
He stated, “We strongly frown on the activities of middlemen who have taken advantage of the short disruption of supply, to maximize profit and generate an inordinate gain for themselves to the detriment of our people.”
The committees called upon security forces to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the petroleum distribution chain to combat economic sabotage, including hoarding, price hikes, product diversion, and smuggling.
Assuring Nigerians of a swift resolution to the fuel scarcity, Ugochinyere reiterated, “We are convinced that this is temporary and in a couple of days, we shall get over it.” He disclosed that there is an ample supply of fuel, with storage facilities holding approximately 1.5 billion liters, sufficient for 30 days.
The committees urged traders and service providers not to exploit the situation for undue profit, emphasizing the need to prioritize the welfare of citizens during this challenging period.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
