Olusola Bello
This Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, expressed regrets over the importation of adulterated petrol into Nigeria and its attendant adverse impact nationwide.
According to the minister in a statement issued by his Senior Adviser, Media and Communications, Horatius Egua, he said inspection failure caused the scarcity of petrol in Nigeria, as he sympathised with Nigerians on behalf of the Federal Government.
“This is regrettable, and the Federal Government sympathises with the citizenry over the unforeseen hardship, occasioned by the inevitable scarcity.
“Let me once again appeal to Nigerians to be patient with the government in finding lasting solutions to the crisis.
Sylva appreciated the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for showing concern to the plight of Nigerians by coming forward with an apology.
“This is unprecedented and shows that we on the government side are not afraid to take responsibility,” he stated. He further noted that the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority had been out on the streets to ensure that the situation normalised quickly, adding that the government was beginning to see the fruits of these efforts.
Sylva said, “This is a time that calls for collective action to save a situation that was not foreseen. It is not a time to trade blames as is customary in Nigeria.
“It is therefore not a time to query anyone but a time to come together to salvage the plight of the average Nigerian.
“After the storm settles there will be time enough to investigate and get to the bottom, so that this does not repeat itself.”
Meanwhile, transport fares, prices of foodstuff and other commodities have risen by over 60 per cent as Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, is being sold above N300 in many filling stations in across the country .
A journey from Kabba in Kogi State to Lagos which used to be N5000 has now risen to N6500 and it may go higher if the problem persist. Consequently, the price of food stuffs are being affected.
In neigbouring Kwara State the atmosphere there is tense and this made the state government to be proactive and making efforts at reducing the hardship being encountered by the people.
The state government has embarked on monitoring of distribution and sale of petroleum products, especially in the state.
Arinola Lawal, Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, who led the monitoring team through Taiwo, Adewole and Geri Alimi areas of the state capital, expressed displeasure over the alleged sharp practices of some dealer