Minister apologises to Nigerians over 'magician' comment

The minister of state for petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has apologised to Nigerians over the comments he made recently, when asked about the lingering fuel crisis.

Kachikwu made the apology before the Senate Committee on Petroleum on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.

The minister’s comment that he was not a magician who could make fuel available overnight, did not go down well with most Nigerians.

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu also chided Kachikwu for his comments, saying it was an insult to Nigerians.

Even civil society groups gave the minister 72 hours to resign his position.

He also told Nigerians that the fuel crisis will end by April.

On why there is no fuel, Kachikwu said “Most fuel products into Nigeria come from Europe and it takes 14 days for fuel to land here.”

Adding that “Refineries in Nigeria are old and dilapidated but with appropriate funds and retooling they will be revived to full capacity.”

The minister also revealed that the services of consultants who will manage the ailing refineries will be engaged soon.

Kachikwu also told those who were planning to come to Abuja to protest, to save their fuel, that he was not going to resign.