Senate Gives NNPC Seven Day Ultimatum To End Scarcity

The Senate yesterday gave the Nigeria, National Petroleum Corporation NNPC a seven day ultimatum to end the long queues in fuel stations across the country.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa, told the Senate in plenary that the joint committee recommended that NNPC be issued a seven day ultimatum to ensure the disappearance of queues from fuel stations across the country.

The Zamfara Central lawmaker underscored the need for security agencies to ensure effective boarder patrol to check diversion of petroleum products to neighbouring African countries.

He noted that the report also recommended that the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) should double its efforts to enforce compliance with the government regulated pump price.

Marafa said, “During the recess, the committee moved around some cities including Abuja and Lagos to ascertain the situation on ground. When we think that we are making progress, we just realised that the queues were resurfacing at the 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.”

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, urged management of NNPC to ensure compliance with the resolution and ensure the disappearance of long queues within the next seven days.