CEM REPORT, ENERGY | The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and oil marketers across the country have been issued a 48-hour ultimatum to end the ongoing fuel scarcity across the country.
The ultimatum which was issued by the State Security (DSS) on Friday via a statement adds that failure to resolve the issue within the ultimatum period will risk the invention of the security agency.
According to Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson of the DSS, distribution must improve and all challenges must be eliminated in the next 48 hours.
He said according to the NNPCL there are 1.9 billion barrels of petroleum in stock, adding that oil marketers will be operating for 24 hours on daily basis to ensure that demands are met, while, tanker operators will be on deck to ensure the lifting of the products.
“Similarly, the NNPC agreed to sell at an ex-depot price. It also agreed to decentralize distributions to impact positively marketers. On our part, we agreed to provide security for the seamless distribution of the products across the country. The distribution must improve and all challenges must be eliminated in the next 48 hours after which as a matter of urgency we will carry out operations across the country not minding whose ox is gored.”
You would recall that this is not the first time the DSS is stepping in to quench the flam of fuel scarcity as it has done so in January 2018 under the Maikanti Baru-led NNPC.
The Federal Government enlisted the DSS and other critical stakeholders to put an immediate end to the fuel scarcity.
Also, during the same period, the Ogun state government enlisted the state DSS as well as other stakeholders and gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to put an end to the lingering fuel scarcity in the state.
Similarly, in November 2015 under the Ibe Kachikwu-led NNPC, the DSS was also called in to intervene in the fuel scarcity crisis. The DSS, alongside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was authorized to check the hoarding and diversion of fuel by oil marketers. They also monitored nationwide fuel trucks out to retail outlets.
Recall a CEM report where the NNPC had promised in September 2022 that the company had adopted measures including the extension of the Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) contract by six months, to sustain the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also called petrol, throughout the country.
