In a bid to restore normalcy to the nation’s fuel supply and distribution matrix currently challenged by scarcity of petrol, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke at the weekend embarked on intensive monitoring of fuel depots and stations across Lagos.
Beginning from Saturday afternoon at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Ikeja upon her arrival from a mission to Houston, U.S., Alison-Madueke visited fuel stations in Mafoloku, Ajao Estate, Bariga and Ikoyi.
Accompanied by heads of some agencies under the Petroleum Ministry, such as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the NNPC, the minister interacted with commuters, motorists, fuel pump attendants as well managers of service stations.
The exercise continued on Sunday with visits to fuel stations at Surulere, through the Lekki-Aja Victoria Island axis.
Speaking after the inspection tour, Alison-Madueke stated that the Federal Government will apply full sanctions against any oil marketer or petroleum product dealer found culpable in the hoarding or diversion of petroleum products.
She noted that findings indicate that the challenge may not be that of lack of petroleum product but the case of wilful diversion of products by some truck drivers.
“Having gone round the state yesterday and today, I can see that normalcy is fast returning as it is not just the filling stations in ikoyi that are wet with products but also those in the mainland and far locations like Ajah”, she said.
“Having said that, it appears there are lots of factors militating against efficient delivery of fuel. We learnt for example that some tanker drivers were changing the number plates of their trucks after loading to make it difficult for tracking. This is obviously being done to aid diversion of products from areas that are meant to receive them to other areas”.
She stated that to deal with the situation, she has issued directives to relevant parastatals in the Petroleum Ministry to arrest the trend.
“I have directed the heads of the agencies, DPR, PPMC and PPPRA, to get back to me today and give me a clear picture and timeline in terms of numbers of trucks coming in to Lagos, the volumes and where they are getting to in terms of the market”, she said.
“I want to establish that there is diversion. If we can establish there is, I want to know when and how this is being done. They need to supply me how these trucks are being tracked because diversion is not easy to do. The perpetrators will be sanctioned and I’m ready to publish names of anybody that may be involved”.
