THE ABUJA FUEL SCARCITY

It is another wake-up call to deregulate the downstream petroleum sector

A resurgence of fuel queues in some major cities across the country has again exposed the mess in the sector and there is need to demand accountability

S ince last weekend, the Federal Capital Territory has been hit by acute petrol scarcity. This has led to long queues of vehicles at fuel stations, with the attendant WUD΀F DQG VRFLDO VQDUOV DFWLYLWLHV VORZLQJ 7KLV GRZQ WLPH FRPPHUFLDO DURXQG WKH R΀FLDO H[SODQDWLRQ IURP WKH 1LJHULDQ 1DWLRQDO 3HWUROHXP &RPSDQ\ 113& /WG LV WKDW WKH SUREOHP could be attributed to low load-out at depots as a result of last week’s two-day holiday. Another contributing factor to the sudden appearances of queues, according WR WKH 113& ZDV increased fuel purchases “which is also usual with returning residents of WKH )&7 IURP WKH SXEOLF KROLGD\Vµ 7KH PDUNHWHUV of course, are saying VRPHWKLQJ GLͿHUHQW However, whatever PD\ EH WKH H[FXVH DXWKRULWLHV LQ $EXMD PXVW XQGHUVWDQG WKDW QXPHURXV SURGXFWLYH KRXUV DUH EHLQJ lost while people’s savings are getting depleted. At a SHULRG ZKHQ SXEOLF XQLYHUVLWLHV DUH FORVHG DQG PDQ\ SHRSOH DUH RXW RI MRE WKH SDWLHQFH RI 1LJHULDQV LV ebbing fast. ,W LV LQGHHG XQIRUWXQDWH WKDW LQ WKH SDVW VL[ GHFDGHV oil has continued to fuel the hope and the despair of 1LJHULDQV 7KDW WKHQ H[SODLQV ZK\ IHZ SHRSOH FDQ XQGHUVWDQG KRZ WKH VL[WK ODUJHVW SURGXFHU RI RLO LQ WKH JOREH FDQQRW ÀQG WKH SURGXFW IRU LWV GRPHVWLF XVH $V 1LJHULDQV JURDQ GDLO\ DW ÀOOLQJ VWDWLRQV WKH VWDUN LURQ\ RI WKLV SUHGLFDPHQW LV RQH WKH\ FDQQRW IDWKRP ,W LV DV FRQIXVLQJ DV LW LV IUXVWUDWLQJ

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