Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is not contemplating any form of hike in the pump price of petroleum products.
Mustapha disclosed this on Saturday at the handing over ceremony of the mantle of leadership as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Inland Waterways Authority ( NIWA) at the authority’s headquarters in Lokoja.
He said that the fuel scarcity being experienced in the country over the last two weeks was being addressed by relevant agencies of government adding that the long queues would ease off soon.
The SGF attributed the scarcity to greed on the part of the marketers who created artificial shortfall to make profits.
Mustapha lamented the attitude of some Nigerians who derive pleasure from seeing others suffer by inflicting pains on the people adding that it was unfair and ungodly for marketers to take advantage of the rush by the people to celebrate Christmas and New year.
“I can assure the people that a day or two after the yuletide, the queue will ease out. The marketers created the scarcity but we have engaged all the relevant stakeholders and we are confident that it will soon normalise.
“We are not thinking about increase in the pump price. We have not discussed it and we will not increase the price” he said, adding that panic buying was unwarranted as there was much product available.
He commended the staff of NIWA for their cooperation and commitment to duty while he headed the authority saying that he would remain an ambassador of the authority and was now in a better position to advance its cause.
He noted that his 15 months at the helm of affairs of the organisation afforded him great opportunity to add value to his life adding that it was NIWA that propped him up for the present assignment.
Mustapha, who assumed office as MD of NIWA on July 11, 2016, reiterated the need to strengthen the law setting up the authority to enable it succeed in its statutory role of administering the inland waterways.
In his response, the acting Managing Director of the authority, Mr Danladi Ibrahim assured the “Boss of Bosses” that every project he started before leaving would be pursued and executed with vigour.
“NIWA is your baby sir, it is our prayers that you nurse the baby to maturity. We will continue to consult you anytime the need arises sir, please don’t be tired of us”, he said.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government on the current fuel crisis in the country.
According to a statement by Mallam Bolaji Abudullahi, the party´s spokesperson on Saturday in Abuja, the APC-led Federal Government is making efforts to address the situation.
“We empathise with Nigerians at this difficult time and appeal for patience with the Federal Government as it make efforts to improve the situation,”´´ he said.
He added that government was making efforts to find lasting solution to the problem that had bedeviled every administration in the country.
“Our party acknowledges the difficulties Nigerians are currently experiencing as a result of the unfortunate fuel scarcity across the country; especially at this yuletide period.
“We understand that the Federal Government is doing everything to improve the situation and bring succor to the people as soon as possible,´´” he said.
Abdullahi added that the APC also understood the unhappiness of Nigerians at the situation, which he noted was happening for the first time in the Christmas period since its administration came to power.
He further said while the APC accepted the choice of the opposition PDP to make political gains out of the development, it condemned its desperation to make the APC-led government look bad.
This, Abdullahi said, the PDP was doing by maliciously fabricating and circulating fictitious statements in the names of government and APC officials.
According to him, the PDP had continued to attack the APC on the basis of such fabricated statements, saying, “this is bad politics´´.”
In a related development, the current fuel scarcity has triggered hike in the prices of food items in Owerri, Imo State as traders attributed the rise to the high cost of transportation.
At the popular Relief Market in Owerri, the price increase started as the fuel scarcity bites harder few days ago.
As Christmas was fast approaching, the race to stock up food items reached its peak as suppliers struggled to meet demands.
At Relief Market in Owerri, a basket of tomatoes which previously sold for N6, 000 five days ago now goes for N10, 000 while a bag of red pepper now cost N8,000, compared to its previous price of N5, 500 per basket.
“Similarly, a bag pepper also increased from N10, 000 to N16, 000 while bag of onions, which was previously sold between N17,000 and N21,000 now goes from N28, 000 to N35,000, depending on the size.
Some of the food items suppliers from the North attributed the price increase to the fuel scarcity which also affected the cost of transporting the produce from the hinterland.
Walshak Dadu, a tomatoes and onions supplier from Jos, said prices increased because suppliers had to factor in the cost and stress of getting fuel from filling stations.
Food items such as yams, beans, pepper, onion, tomatoes and others have also become more expensive.
“A big tuber of yam which previously sold at N500 increased to N700 while smaller tubers which were sold between N200 and N300 increased to N400.
“A 50 kilogram (kg) bag of rice, which was sold at N19,000, slightly increased to N22,000, while a 25kg bag went from N9500 to N11,000.
Average size live chicken which was N2,500 increased to N3,500, while turkey went from 10,000 to as much as N14,000 due to transportation costs.
Also in Ibadan, Oyo State, transport fare has gone up by 100 per cent.
However, in spite of the fuel shortage, there were scores of people at some motor parks, who were set to travel home for this festive season.
At the new Ife road park, the transport fare to Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ilesa, which previously cost N500, N600 and N700, now attracts N1,000, N1, 200 and N1, 500 respectively.
The fare from Ibadan to Akure, has increased from N1,100 to N2, 200 while to Owo and Akoko, it has gone up from N1, 500 to N3, 000.
At the Lagos park in Iwo road, a trip to Lagos now costs N2, 000 or more as against N1, 000, which it cost two days ago.
Also at the Ojoo park, the transport fare to Ilorin, which previously cost N1, 500 now costs N3, 000 while the fare to Iseyin attracts N1, 200 from the previous N600.
Some of the drivers attributed the hike in transport fare to fuel scarcity, saying that most of them bought fuel from ‘black’ marketers.
Saheed Olowe, a driver, said that a litre of petrol was sold for between N300 and N350 at the parallel market.
‘‘That is more than 100 per cent increase, so commercial drivers should not be blamed for the hike.
‘‘Those in position of authority should be held responsible for the hardship the masses are passing through,” Olowe said.
Another driver, Joseph Akogun, said the hike in transport fare was a temporary development, which would be reversed once drivers get fuel at the normal price.
Akogun said the scarcity of fuel caught drivers unaware, due to assurances from the government that fuel would be available and that people should not involve themselves in panic buying.
He urged the government to resolve whatever the problem that was responsible for the scarcity in order to save Nigerians from unnecessary suffering.
Some of the passengers at the parks visited, were not in a happy mood, as they lamented the high cost of transport fare to their destinations.
Mr Titus Olominu, a traveller, described the situation as pathetic and called on government to make fuel available at filling stations.
Also, Mr Jide Akinwale said that he had to sell a pair of the new shoes he bought at the park before he could afford the N2, 200 fare to Akure.
Akinwale said he bought the shoes as a Christmas gift for his twin brother but expressed regrets that the unpleasant situation had forced him to sell it.
He appealled to the government to ensure the availability of petrol at filling stations so that fuel could be purchased at N145 per litre.
On her own, Madam Esther Ajetumobi, a widow with three kids, said she had to suspend her trip to her hometown Akoko, Ondo State, due to the hike in transport fare.
Ajetumobi said there was no way she could afford N6, 000 as the cost of travelling to Akoko with her three children.
‘‘I prefer using the money to buy chicken for my children and celebrate Christmas in Ibadan,” she said.
