Petroleum Minister, Kichukwu Pledges Uninterrupted Fuel Supply During the Yuletide
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu has assured Nigerians that the current fuel scarcity roll over to the yuletide even as Nipco plc restate its community to ship in more cargoes to augment supplies from the NNPC.
Nipco had few days ago braced all odds in importing 37 million liters of petrol even when most marketers had shun importation owing to the outstanding subsidy claims of over N413 billion which although government had approved but is yet to be appropriated by the National Assembly for payment.
Dr Kachikwu who was on a tour of depots in Lagos made the remark during a visit to Nipco affirmed that December is a critical month in term of the demand for product to enable movement across the country.
“We need to put in place fool proof measures to ensures that stations across the nooks and crannies of the country are wet to guarantee easy access at government approved rates even as the Directorate of Petroleum Resources ( DPR) have been directed to ensure strict compliance to the N87 per litre regime at all filling stations , he declared.
The Minister expressed concern and indeed apologized to the populace on the current scarcity but noted that all hands are on deck to address the monster.
Acknowledging the support of Nipco especially with her commencement of product imports , Dr Kachikwu implored other marketers to follow suit as all pending obligations to them in the realm of subsidy payments, and other ancillary commitments.
The Minister commended the efforts of Nipco so far referring to the company as a Nigerian investment sitting on a Nigerian soil adding “we need to rally round the company and support her in the overall interest of the nation and its populace”
Earlier in his address, MD, Nipco, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy, said the company had remained an ally of government in ensuring product availability across the country through its depot operations and branded stations and independent marketer’s outlets who load in the terminal.
He noted that pricing of petroleum products at its depot have always been at the government approved depot rates adding that concerted efforts are also made to ensure that only registered marketers with verifiable outlets load in the company.
Mr Venkatapathy however implored government to look into the area of gas especially in the realm of Compressed Natural Gas as vehicular fuel as such feat will save the nation and the citizenry hiccups always experienced in the importation of liquid fuels.
According to him, it is in pursuance of harnessing the abundant gas resources in the country that the company in a Joint Venture with Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) floated Green Gas Ltd to provide necessary infrastructures that could aid use of gas as vehicular fuel as well as powering of industrial concerns.
According to him, the Joint Venture scheme had resulted in the conversion of over 4,000 vehicles in Benin City alone with seven CNG outlets while the ibafo station in Ogun State has also commenced operation along the line.
The MD stated that the giant stride of Green Gas Ltd is already manifesting as a revolution not only in Nigeria but in the entire Africa adding that the development will save government lots of forex at a time the nation is witnessing lots of stress in importing petrol.