Organised labour on Thursday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct relevant regulatory agencies in the oil and gas sector to enforce sales of petroleum products from fuel stations across the country.
The stakeholders’ under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) gave the charge while responding to public outcry, alleging that the recent planned strike by the oil workers triggered the scarcity of petroleum products.
The Association in a statement issued in Abuja, however denied the report, however blamed the oil marketers for hoarding petroleum products despite ongoing efforts by Federal Government to address the challenges.
The oil workers, further alleged that the artificial scarcity was targeted at enforcing new price regime, contrary to government’s policy.
“In the bid to curtail the scourge of fuel scarcity across the country, DPR and government agencies should go out to enforce sales of products from fuel stations that are hoarding the product.
“Virtually all stations has petrol but they are not ready to sell so as to exploit the people.
“I wonder why people are blaming PENGASSAN for the current fuel scarcity in the country.
“The scarcity started two weeks before PENGASSAN issued a 7-days strike ultimatum notice on December 7.
“Then the problem of the government and IPMAN was at the front burner, when IPMAN threatened showdown with the government over irregular supply of petroleum products.
“Despite resolving the problem, the scarcity persists,” Babatunde Oke, PENGASSAN Media and Information Officer, said.
He noted that the strike notice issued by PENGASSAN did not last for 14 hours before it was arrested and called off sequel to the intervention of the Director of Department of State Security (DSS), Minister of Labour and Employment as well as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
“Government and NNPC assured that there is enough products to go round the Yuletide season, then why the scarcity?
“The real reasons was not examined but the scarcity is being blamed on wrong reasons.
“There is scarcity because marketers want petrol price to be increased.
“They have been arguing that the margin is not profitable and therefore seek increment which the government has been resisting and pegging at N145 per litre.
“Secondly, the rivalry between IPMAN, MOMAN and DAPPMA over fuel allocation is a cause.
“The leadership controversies in IPMAN also contributes to scarcity.
“Hoarding by fuel stations owners an d panic buying Nigerians is equally a problem for the scarcity,” Oke stressed.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
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