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Marketers begin fuel import amid forex challenges

By Emeka Anuforo, Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Miriam Humbe (Abuja), Yetunde Ebosele, Bertram Nwannekanma and Sulaimon Salau (Lagos)
05 April 2016   |   2:24 am
In a swift move to exercise their fuel import allocation quota for the second quarter of 2016, some independent and major marketers have begun to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), despite the...
PHOTO: energymixreport.com

PHOTO: energymixreport.com

• NLC wants permanent solution to scarcity
• SERAP urges Buhari to end fuel crisis

In a swift move to exercise their fuel import allocation quota for the second quarter of 2016, some independent and major marketers have begun to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), despite the foreign exchange (forex) challenges.

Some of the marketers, who spoke with The Guardian, yesterday confirmed that the fuel scarcity might linger till the fourth week in April when most of the newly-imported cargoes will be arriving the shores of this country.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to persistent fuel scarcity in the country.

The Labour during its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lagos yesterday urged President Buhari to do all things practically possible to ensure that the scarcity situation is nipped in the bud.

Speaking on behalf of the union, the factional president, Joe Ajaero, said the situation has become worrisome and seemed to have defied all solutions, adding that Nigerians may soon bounce on government due to the untold hardship being experienced daily.

In another development, a Lagos-based rights group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has charged President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also Minister of Petroleum Resources, to personally co-ordinate efforts to resolve the fuel scarcity that has lingered for weeks in the country.

It said that the situation has lingered without any clear direction from the President.

In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group challenged the President to exercise his authority as the Minister of Petroleum Resources by urgently prioritising the sector and co-ordinating government responses to the fuel scarcity across the country.

The statement noted: “The longer this fuel scarcity continues, the greater the difficulties Nigerians will face. President Buhari now has to take control of the Ministry of Petroleum to end the continued suffering by ensuring that fuel is available and properly distributed across the country. There’s a lot of work to do in this sector, so the President should roll up his sleeves and sort this out before it goes out of hand.

“Nigerians need a permanent solution to the fuel crisis. Given the country’s status among oil producing countries, this government must not fall for the quick fix and the short-termism that characterised the policies of successive governments.”

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