Tambuwal: Kerosene unavailable despite N1trn subsidy

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday lamented the continued scarcity of kerosene in the country, despite the sinking of over N1trn in the last four years as subsidy.

The speaker stated this while declaring open the 2-day public hearing on the expenditure, supply, distribution and the subsidy of kerosene between 2011-2013 period.

Tambuwal, whose speech was read by deputy speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, said with at least 30% of households in Nigeria relying heavily on kerosene, the product’s perennial scarcity “has become the most topical issue in Nigeria today for several reasons.

“About 56% of our population still depends on firewood due to lack of access to kerosene. The implication is that as time goes on, about 80% of our population will most likely come to depend on kerosene as the source of domestic fuel.

“Besides, it is quite surprising that for a long while now, it has become easier to have access to gas and PMS than to kerosene. The scarcity of kerosene has become another proof that as a nation we simply need to get our act together.”

Even when kerosene is available, the product is sold at such exorbitant rates that Nigerians have to pay huge sums to get the product. “This is just unacceptable and certainly not in the best interest of our people.”