Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR–The Federal Government has admitted that the scarcity of fuel in the country is not due to the absence of products but inspection failure.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by his Senior Adviser, Media and Communications, Horatius Egua, to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
He however sympathized with Nigerians on behalf of the Federal Government.
The statement thus read: “In the last weeks, Nigerians have grappled with fuel scarcity, not because of the absence of supply of products but due to inspection failure, which allowed adulterated products into the country.
“This is regrettable, and the Federal Government sympathises with the citizenry over the unforeseen hardship, occasioned by the inevitable scarcity.
“Let me once again appeal to Nigerians to be patient with the government in finding lasting solutions to the crisis.”
“This is unprecedented and shows that we on the government side are not afraid to take responsibility.”
The Minister assured that the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority had been out on the streets to ensure that the situation normalized quickly.
“This is a time that calls for collective action to save a situation that was not foreseen. It is not a time to trade blames as is customary in Nigeria.
“It is therefore not a time to query anyone but a time to come together to salvage the plight of the average Nigerian.
“After the storm settles there will be time enough to investigate and get to the bottom, so that this does not repeat itself.”
He also thanked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for showing concern to the plight of Nigerians by coming forward with an apology.
