The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has again been summoned by the Senate.
Kachikwu was summoned on Monday, March 28, 2016, and expected to appear before the Senate tomorrow, March 29, to explain the cause of the lingering fuel scarcity across the country.
The Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) summoned the minister after carrying out on-the-spot assessment of the fuel situation in major filling stations within the nation’s capital.
Report said members of the committee were confronted with long queues of vehicles at many filling stations despite the fact that the operators were not dispensing the fuel to motorists, alleging lack of supply from the NNPC Depot in Suleja.
READ: ‘Oil prices will rise again,’ Kachikwu hints
According to recent report, the Acting Chairman of the committee, Senator Jibrin Barau, said the Petroleum Minister must definitely appear before his panel, to explain what led to the situation and way out of it.
He said the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, charged the committee to see to the deteriorating situation.
He said: “This situation is very bad and unacceptable, hence, the need for the Minister to appear before us tomorrow (today), and unveil his plan of way out to us.
“Even if he doesn’t have any plan yet out of the lingering problem, the Senate President and the entire members of the committee are more than ready to rub minds with him for that needed purpose.”
Also commenting on the situation, the Senate Minority whip and a member of the committee, Senator Philip Aduda, called on the Federal Government to immediately find a solution to the problem.
“What Nigerians need is fuel and not blame game. The government should look for petrol and ensure that it is given to the people,” Aduda said.
“This situation is very and unacceptable. We are Nigerians and it will be bad for us to continue remaining in queues.
“If the APC leaders like, let them blame themselves; that is their problem but the most important thing is for us to have fuel in the federal republic of Nigeria.
“That is what we are looking for and that is what we want. We want to see all these queues disappear.”
The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Tinubu, had last week criticised Kachikwu, saying he should apologise to Nigerians for saying he does not have a magic wand to end the ongoing fuel crisis.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate