DSS gives NNPCL 48 hours to resolve fuel scarcity, Petrol Imports Rise

09 Dec DSS gives NNPCL 48 hours to resolve fuel scarcity, Petrol Imports Rise

The Department of State Services has given Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other stakeholders in the downstream sector 48 hours to end the lingering fuel scarcity across the country.

This was even as data showed that NNPC petrol import bill hit an all-time high of N4 trillion from January to September 2022, the highest in four years.

Addressing journalists at the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said they held a closed door meeting with stakeholders who agreed to end the scarcity.

He said all DSS commands had been placed on red alert and would commence operations to bring defaulters to book.

Afunanya said the service summoned the meeting and subsequently issued the ultimatum based on its mandate of detecting and preventing threats against the internal security of the country.

He said, “Today we held a meeting with NNPLC and other stakeholders in the down steam 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 hurdles right away. Nigerians have rights to have access to petroleum products.  We told them we would not continue to tolerate the scarcity.

“You might be wondering what our business is on this issue. Don’t forget the Constitution charged 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.

“The major takeaway from our deliberation is that there is sufficient fuel that would last us throughout the yultide 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 resolution reached at the end of the meeting is that the marketers will be operating for 24 hours on 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.

“On our part, we agreed to provide security for seamless distribution of the products across the country. Distribution must improve and all challenges must be eliminated in the next 48 hours after which as a matter of urgency we will carry out operations across the country not minding whose ox is gored.

The country relies wholly on imports to meet its fuel needs as its refineries have remained in a state of disrepair for many years despite several reported repairs.

Data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed the importation of petrol gobbled up N4 trillion from January to September, a 173 percent increase from N1.3 trillion recorded in the same period in 2020.

A further breakdown of NBS data showed Nigeria spent a total of N1.506 trillion in the first quarter of 2022, N948 billion in the second quarter, and N1.2 trillion in the third quarter.