Governor accuses FG of plans to hike fuel price to N185

Ekiti State governor,

In a report by Premium Times, Fayose alleged that the FG is deliberately causing the current scarcity of fuel in the country in a ploy to justify the planned increase.

In a statement on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose also accused the federal government of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

“Petrol is scarce across the country because the federal government deliberately reduced supply since it is only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that is importing the product,” the governor alleged.

Continuing, he said: “Allowing fuel scarcity to persist for over two weeks when Nigerians are preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year is the height of wickedness on the part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government.

“Funny enough, instead of directing its anger to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Minister of Petroleum, on December 7, 2017, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) choose to give the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu seven days ultimatum to end the fuel scarcity.

“Today is December 17, exactly 10 days after the misplaced ultimatum was given, the situation has even gotten worse.

“By the time the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) goes on strike as being threatened, the whole country will be shut down and one wonders what will become of Nigerians that desire to move around during the festive season.”

Stressing further his allegations, Fayose said it was necessary for the FG to tell Nigerians the truth about the situation of fuel supply in the country.

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“It is only the NNPC that is bringing products in; and the result is the scarcity being experienced now. The thinking is that by the time the scarcity persists for like one month, with Nigerians already buying at N200 per litre, the people will jump at it if petrol is increased from N145 to N185 per litre,” he said.

“This time, Nigerians will resist any attempt to further impoverish them by increasing the pump price of petrol.”

Buhari orders Kachikwu, Baru to clear queues

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has handed the minister of state for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, and the GMD of the state run Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, marching orders to put an end to the petrol queues spiralling across the country--by the weekend.

Gas shortages are a recurring theme across Nigeria’s major cities around Christmas season.