NIGERIANS, BUSINESSES GROAN AS ENERGY CRISIS WORSENS
subjugation of 170 million people to economic suicide and economic ruination through unsustainable petroleum import-based racket that denies petroleum products needed for mass movement of goods and services.
“The system enriches a few cabals, puts pressures on foreign exchange, encourages fuels products hoarding, and promotes sheer price robbery of the already impoverished citizens.
“This is an unofficial declaration of war against the citizens by combined forces of irresponsible ruling elite and business crooks.”
He declared further that "if the current scarcity and price robbery of Nigerians continue, the Nigeria Labour Congress would have no choice but compel workers to stay at home.
“Workers certainly cannot fuel themselves to work with their blood. There is a limit to slavery and state/ marketers’ extortionism!
“We also have high-sounding agencies such as NNPC and PPPRA, among others, and yet there is no governance with respect to the distribution of basic products like petroleum and kerosene. This agonising capitalism must be resisted by all Nigerians”. Capital Oil Begins Distribution of Petrol
However, there was a glimmer of hope yesterday when Capital Oil and Gas Limited defied the oil workers strike by opening its depot and commenced the distribution of petrol to various parts of the country to end the current shortage, which has grounded economic activities in the country.
Speaking to journalists during the commencement of loading, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, said his company would not be part of the sabotage against Nigeria, saying that the suspension of loading by marketers had resulted in immense hardship for Nigerians.
He said that he was not consulted by those who wanted to shutdown the country, adding that “the people on strike do not have the investment we have in this industry”.
Ubah acknowledged that the directive his company received on May 16, 2015 via SMS to suspend loading with effect from May 18 was as result of funds owed to transporters by oil marketers, who in turn, were owed by the federal government.
He, however, said a better solution should be pursued to solve this problem, without causing untold hardship to the people, pointing out that deregulation is the best solution to Nigeria’s energy crisis.
“Capital Oil and Gas has watched with so much pain, the suffering and hardship our citizens have been subjected to as a result of scarcity of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and household kerosene. We are deeply pained to hear that hospitals cannot perform surgeries; laboratories are unable to carry out much-needed tests, especially for emergency patients, leaving such patients at risk of dying; radio stations are shutting down; communication is being affected as MTN and other telecommunications companies have announced an impending shutdown, while homes, offices and key facilities nationwide are experiencing blackouts.
“In some parts of the country, petrol is already selling at an all-time high of N1,000 per litre. Our citizens have left their homes and are now sleeping in fuel stations, facing the risk of robbery attacks and other attendant risks,” Ubah explained.
He said that in a few days, a new government headed by Muhammadu Buhari would be inaugurated, adding that apart from Nigerians being unable to watch the handover ceremony on television and apart from unavailability of means of transportation for the attendees to this historic occasion, the chaos caused by the current scarcity might shutdown the country and sabotage the efforts the country had made to attain greater heights.
“We are constrained at this point and have decided that two wrongs cannot make a right. We will not be part of this sabotage against our fatherland. Therefore, from this minute, we shall take the risk of opening our facilities and commence the swift loading and distribution of products nationwide,” he added.
The Capital Oil boss said his company would distribute 13 million litres of petrol or about 400 tankers from yesterday afternoon to this morning.
According to him, many imported vessels were waiting to discharge at his depot but there was no space to discharge because of the strike.
He said if the crisis is allowed to linger, products at the depots would continue to evaporate.
Ubah, who said his action was propelled by patriotism, urged other marketers to follow suit to save the country from the impending economic and social crisis.
“This is a period that requires patriotism and service to fatherland. Let us join hands to help our fellow citizens and save Nigeria. We also call on striking bodies to call off the strike. Let us work together for the betterment of our people,” he added.
Speaking on the gridlock on Oshodi-Apapa Road, which has been caused by fuel tankers, Ubah stated that his company has a total solution to the traffic menace.
“In the coming weeks, we hope to engage the Federal Ministry of Transport, Lagos State Government and other stakeholders in the affected area, to optimally utilise our truck park facilities, which have the capacity to accommodate over 1,100 trucks per time and 5,000 on a shift basis,” he said.