Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has ordered for deployment of officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to petrol outlets across the country to effectively monitor fuel supply as part of desperate measures by the federal government to tackle lingering fuel crisis.
Speaking at an emergency meeting with senior members of staff of the corporation at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, Kachikwu said though there were a number of challenges in the supply and distribution chains that hampered efficient distribution of products nationwide, it was time for the NNPC to rise above the challenges by ensuring that the special intervention supplies are not diverted, or hoarded.
Kachokwu said the new measure was in continuation of the special intervention fuel supply for the Yuletide season, stressing that another batch of 567 trucks have also been dispatched nationwide to help ease the supply gap.
According to a statement signed by the NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, the minister said the situation calls for effective monitoring of the supply system, “especially at the end points, to ascertain that what is trucked out from the depots is delivered at the designated fuel stations and dispensed to the public in the most efficient manner.
“We need you to be out there to help achieve this; we can’t be at ease while Nigerians are going through so much pain to get fuel,” he stressed, urging workers of the corporation to work towards achieving zero-queues at their respective stations as soon as possible.
Also speaking at the emergency meeting, the Group Executive Director, Commercial & Investment, Dr. Victor Adeniran, urged workers on monitoring duties to work closely with the Rapid Response Team, by reporting any situation that needs urgent intervention such as low stock, delayed arrival of trucks or any underhand dealing.
He said the Rapid Response Team is made up of Pipeline, Product Marketing Company (PPMC) workers and representatives of law enforcement agencies that can adequately handle any challenge, adding that so far, about 200 trucks of the special intervention stock have arrived Abuja.
Adeniran urged the workers to be vigilant and ensure that all the fuel trucks designated for their respective stations are delivered and dispensed to members of the public in a most efficient manner.
By Olisemeka Obeche