Describing the fuel scarcity in parts of the country as an act of sabotage, apparently aimed at frustrating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) from ensuring adequate supply, ECORA noted that the scarcity, until recently considered a thing of the past, reared its ugly head months to elections.
In a statement signed by ECORA President, Dr. Mustapha Bala and Secretary General, Mrs. Mary Awe, the group explained: “Some of our members sent to some states for on-the-spot assessment of the fuel supply situation discovered that most filling stations in rural areas have fuel, while in state capitals, some places have queues and others do not have, an evidence of clear sabotage.”
The group, however, commended the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, for not bowing to antics of marketers, who have wittingly adjusted upward the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
While praising the national oil company for maintaining the pump price, it reiterated: “Those who have increased the pump price are all scrupulous profiteers, who don’t care about the economic implication on consumers.”
On the discovery of oil in northern Nigeria, the group lauded Kyari for breaking the over 50 years jinx of exploration without success.
“What appears impossible has finally been made possible. The discovery of oil in commercial quantity in Bauchi, Gombe and Nasarawa states will, no doubt, lead to increased job opportunities; industrial growth and emergence of new refineries.
“As group of consumers, we are happy to be associated with NNPCL because of the short and long term economic gains, which suffices to say the country can now generate more revenue from oil for sustainable development,” it stated.
The group, however, raised that alarm the since the discovery of oil in northern parts of the country, some persons have started undermining Kyari for no just reason.
“We expect these people to know that rather than attempt to undermine Kyari’s proactive efforts to rescue our oil sector, they should acknowledge him for two things that distinguish him from past chief executives of NNPC: frantic efforts to clamp down on oil thieves and discovery of oil in northern Nigeria.
“It is for these reasons that we are asking Kyari to remain focused and concentrate on the reforms to ensure that the masses feel the positive impact of Nigeria’s oil wealth.”
