End fuel crisis within 48 hours, DSS tells NNPC, marketers

…says situation becoming security threat

The Department of State Services on Thursday handed down a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other players in the oil sector to end scarcity of petrol in all parts of the country.

The fuel scarcity has persisted in Abuja, Lagos and many states for over a month, adversely affecting economic activities and a threat to security.

The situation has also resulted in hike in the price of the product.

But speaking to journalists at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the DSS said the situation was becoming a threat to the nation’s internal security and it needed to intervene.

Spokesperson for the DSS, Peter Afunaya, spoke to journalists on the issue, saying they had a closed door meeting with the NNPCL and others relevant operators in the sector and they had promised to end the scarcity of the product.

He said, “Today, we held a meeting with NNPLC and other stakeholders in the downstream sector which include the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, depot operators among others.

“We were clear and told them enough is enough on the lingering fuel scarcity. We told them they should resolve the hurdle right away. Nigerians have the right to have access to petroleum products. We told them we would not continue to tolerate the scarcity.”

Afunaya said the DSS had to intervene because of it is mandated by the constitution to prevent threats to national security as well as to prevent sabotage to the Nigerian economy.

“You might be wondering what our business is on this issue. Don’t forget the Constitution charges us with the mandate of detecting and preventing any threat against our internal security.

“We are also empowered to investigate economic sabotage of concern to national security.”

He added that all stakeholders in the sector agreed on the need to end the scarcity at the meeting with them.

Afunaya said on its own part, the DSS would provide security for the distribution of fuel across the country.

According to him, all the DSS commands in the country are on alert and will begin operations to bring defaulters to book.

He said, “The major takeaway from our deliberation is that there is sufficient fuel that would last us throughout the Yuletide and beyond in the country despite all other issues raised.

“The NNPCL said there are 1.9 billion barrels of petroleum in stock and all the stakeholders agreed to that.

“Among the resolutions reached at the end of the meeting is that the marketers will be operating for 24 hours on a daily basis.

“Also, tanker operators assured that all hands will be on deck to ensure the lifting of the products.

“Similarly, the NNPCL agreed to sell at ex-depot price. It also agreed to decentralise distributions to impact positively on marketers.”