NLC: Fuel Scarcity May be Ploy to Remove Subsidy
Major marketers move to end crisis
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the disagreement by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and oil marketers over the actual subsidy amount points to a conspiracy that the ongoing fuel scarcity may be caused by those pushing for removal of subsidy.
It also described the disagreement as an embarrassment the tirade, which has worsened the painful experience of Nigerians who continue to struggle to get petroleum products.
In a statement by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, yesterday, the NLC expressed worry at the sustained scarcity in almost all parts of the country, particularly Abuja and Lagos for several weeks now without successful intervention by the government.
“Our position on this has not changed as we remain opposed to the removal of petroleum subsidy. If government is truly owing marketers, they should pay them immediately as the long queues at fuel stations have led to loss of lots of productive hours since workers are either unable to get to work or spend long hours searching for fuel,” the statement read.
It continued “the scarcity has also led to sharp practices with workers paying between N120 to N130 per litre at some filling stations. For those commuting by public transport, they now pay more to get to work even when there are no increases in salaries,” NLC said.
The congress insisted that the government owes Nigerians the responsibility of arresting the situation immediately as it is fully responsible for the management of the petroleum industry.
“We do not expect to experience any scarcity in any part of Nigeria because one of the reasons government gave for the increase in the price of petroleum products in 2012 was that it will ensure regular supply of the products. We will not be blackmailed into accepting the current scarcity as reason for another increase,” the statement added.
meanwhile, indications have emerged that the agonising fuel scarcity across the country, which started last week, may ease off by weekend, as major petroleum marketers including Total, Oando, Mobil Forte Oil and Conoil, work round the clock to ensure adequate supply of petrol to all their outlets nationwide.
Visit to the Apapa hub of fuel depots operated by the nation’s major oil marketers showed increased activities as tankers formed long queues to load fuel.
At the Conoil depot for instance, it was a beehive of activities as all the loading arms in the company’s gantry were seen busy loading fuel into waiting trucks.
The long queue of trucks waiting to be loaded at the company’s Apapa Depot, though orderly, stretched beyond its premises with its operation staff ensuring that the trucks were loaded and dispatched in good times.
A company official, who craved anonymity, confirmed that the company was working round the clock to ensure that all its stations in Lagos and across the country were fully stocked by this weekend with the determination that the agony being experienced by Nigerians since the crisis started was brought under control as soon as practicable.
THISDAY recalls that reprieve from the lingering crisis emerged after a protracted meeting in Abuja on Monday, between federal government officials led by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and those of the Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) led by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Obafemi Olawore.