Fuel scarcity: NANS constitutes Taskforce on product monitoring
ABUJA- The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has formed a task force to monitor the sale and distribution of the product against the backdrop of the country's ongoing fuel scarcity.
This happened as the students' body swore not to approve any price increases, saying that if they did, it would be forced to mobilize against those who advocated for them.
It bemoaned the stress and suffering that Nigerians have endured since the start of the fuel shortage on February 8th.
Comrade Sunday Asefon, the National President of NANS, stated NANS has rejected and will continue to vehemently oppose any move to raise the country's petroleum pump price.
He also revealed that NANS has finalized preparations to form an Independent Task Force to help the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other relevant authorities combat stockpiling, price hikes, and diversion across the country.
He asked for converted efforts by all key stakeholders in Petroleum industry to find sustainable solution to the rediculous situation and restore normalcy.
"It is also a verifiable fact that the Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has demonstrated consistency and dedication, starting with alerting Nigerians of off-spec petroleum products and working to ensure that all affected companies and individuals responsible for this adulterated fuel mess are appropriately sanctioned," Asefon said.
"NANS applauds NMDPRA for alerting the country to the presence of methanol in imported gasoline that exceeded national criteria, and then declaring that efforts were in high gear to remove the contaminated products from circulation to avert economic damage."
“Nigerians we recalled that the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, in subsequent statements and an appearance at the House of Representatives outlined efforts at by NNPC to arrest the situation.
Among which are NNPC and other relevant agencies embarking on Petrol Distribution Surveillance (PDS), with the sole aim of seeing to the seamless evacuation of adulterated products from mother vessels to depots and trucking from depots to other inland depots as well as retail stations. “While NANS wish to declare are Readiness to join the surveillance team to monitor and ensure effective distribution, avert diversion and fight out delibrate price hike by retailers.
“Information available to Nigerian student’s Apex body also confirmed that there is daily monitoring of trucks out from depots to all 36 states of the nation.
“Besides these, there is never a plan to enforce new pump price on Nigerian as insinuated by some unscrupulous elements.
“In coming days, NANS shall Innagurate Independent Task Force to assist the NNPC and other relevant agency to end the holding, price hike and diversion accross the nation.
“Our team shall be entering all fuel statgon to ensure anyone with product that refused to sell are force to sale while those selling at hike prices shall be force to sell at normal price.
“This action plans has become imperative in view of rescueing the situation and support the NNPC to help Nigerians to overcome this suffering,” he said.