Senate probes fuel scarcity

Senate President Bukola Saraki

The Senate on Tuesday asked its committee on petroleum to investigate all issues associated with the current scarcity of petroleum products in the country.

The upper chamber mandated its committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to urgently determine how the legislature will collaborate with the executive arm of government to bring lasting solution to problem of fuel scarcity in the country.

The Senate urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other stakeholders to continue with their current push to stem the tide of fuel scarcity while the legislative and executive arms of government should continue their collaboration to find lasting solution to the problem.

Due to the urgency of the situation, the committee was given two weeks to report back to the Senate in plenary.

The resolution to investigate the fuel scarcity followed a motion by Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and 23 others.

The motion also brought out sharp division among the Senators on the agitation for removal of fuel subsidy.

Jibrin in his lead debate noted the scarcity of petroleum products in major cities and towns around the country in recent weeks and the hardship the scarcity is inflicting on Nigerians.

The Kano North lawmaker expressed worry that the scarcity is creating an untold hardship to Nigerians who have to pay higher prices for the products, especially petrol.

Jibrin said he is convinced that the unhealthy situation is not in tune with the desire of the current government to bring succor to Nigerians in all spheres of their lives.

Source: The Nation