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Why fuel scarcity persists, by CLO

By Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos
20 March 2016   |   2:34 am
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has said that Nigeria still suffers fuel scarcity because decisive action has not been taken to smoke out saboteurs and cabals, who have held the country hostage for years, in the petroleum industry.
Motorists queue at a filling station

Motorists queue at a filling station

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has said that Nigeria still suffers fuel scarcity because decisive action has not been taken to smoke out saboteurs and cabals, who have held the country hostage for years, in the petroleum industry.

The group advised state governments to collaborate with relevant authorities to establish monitoring mechanisms to ensure that petroleum products meant for their states are not diverted to the black market.

The director of CLO, Steve Aluko–Daniel, who gave the suggestion as a guest on a Plateau Radio Television (PRTV) programme, suggested that a special task force be constituted and empowered to ensure that sharp practices are nipped in the bud.

He said that if adopted, the measure would ensure availability of the products in the state, while appropriate punishment is meted out to saboteurs.

Urging President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive action to track the activities of saboteurs in his capacity as the minister of petroleum resources, he chastised some state governments for leaving residents in their states to suffer because of diversion of the product.

According to him, “We have a situation whereby some of those who lift fuel for public consumption also engage in fuel diversion. Even when they arrive with the product, they make sure to create commotion so that buying fuel becomes the survival of the fittest. So, the issue goes just beyond the independent marketers.”

If they are part of the problem, which I believe, the government should sanction them. This is very important.” Meanwhile, the Coalition of People’s Democratic Party Patriots has commended the national chairman of the party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, for weathering the storm generated by his appointment to finish the tenure of the North East Zone.

They also applauded him for successfully piloting the affairs of the party thus far. Chairman of the PDP coalition, Hon. Titus Alams, rising from a meeting of the group in Jos, commended members of the PDP family for their understanding in amicably resolving the knotty issue of the North East completing its chairmanship slot.

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