Distribute Hoarded Fuel Free to Nigerians - Petroleum Minister of State, Kachikwu Orders DPR

Posted by Odinaka on Wed 18th Nov, 2015 - tori.ng

Some retail outlets found to be hoarding petroleum products will soon be sealed as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu has directed the Department of Petroleum Resources into taking actions.

Just after a working visit to some retail outlets in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu directed the Department of Petroleum Resources to seal off fuel stations found to be hoarding petroleum products and dispense the petroleum free to the public.

"I have instructed DPR that if they discover any fuel station involved in hoarding, they should sell the products for free to customers around there. It is not just sealing the station that is the answer. It is penalizing them when they do these things. I hope the message goes out loud and clear."

The Minister also scheduled a session on Wednesday with key operators in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, namely;

1. Major Marketers Association of Nigeria

2. Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association

3. Jetty and Tank Farm Owners Associations

The meeting is expected to mobilise the oil marketers across the country to cooperate with government to ensure speedy clearance of the fuel queues.

"I am getting all the majors to get involved and they must take charge of the situation. They must take responsibility for all their filling stations. I have instructed the DPR and the Petroleum Equalization Fund and all the other agencies to work towards the Fast track movement of petrol bearing trucks and vessels," he explained.

The minister said there was enough supply of petroleum products by the NNPC, as about 38 million litres of products haa been moved to various filling stations across the country help resolve the crisis.

On the approved payment of N413 billion subsidy claims to marketers, the minister confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari had since transmitted a letter to the National Assembly for the approval of subsidy claims.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, he assured, would soon make the funds available to the marketers once appropriated by the National Assembly.