A coalition of Civil Society groups under the aegis of Civil Society for Development Initiative (CSDI) have accused oil marketers as being behind fuel scarcity at a critical time Nigerians were celebrating festivities.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Sunday, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Abolore Ola Bakare explained that oil marketers have something up their sleeves to hoodwink the Buhar led government into reintroduction of subsidy regime.

The group noted that the fuel scarcity was artificial as well as it was the handiwork of those running the oil and gas downstream to foist their exploitative interest on Nigeria's National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through subsidy regime and price increase.

They wondered at how the oil marketers arrived at a proposed pump price of N171.05k which NNPC declined that led to cladestine activities by creating fuel scarcity.

'We have on good authority that oil marketers proposed increase in pump price of N171.05k which the NNPC declined. That was why they have decided to create artificial scarcity", Com. Abolore said.

"It is glaring to all Nigerians that the downstream industry players have made up their minds to sabotage effort of government at all cost. That's why they're hoarding fuel at filling stations across the country", he added.

"We are appalled that when officials of NNPC including the Group GMD, Maikanti Baru, the PPRA Executive Secretary and Minister of State for Petroleum were virtually on supervisory tour of filling stations, yet those sabotours stuck to their guns".

The group further suspect IPMAN, PENGASSAN of complicity, particularly for declining Senate Committee on oil and Gas (downstream) invitation, a situation, they described as antithetical to policies of government at ensuring that Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy.

They urged the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) not to acquisce to the demand of those marketers, saying, the time of allowing few oil cabals to hijack the destiny of Nigerians has passed.

The group commended Senate Committee on oil and gas (downstream) for taking steps towards curtailing dangerous antics of oil marketers.

While passing vote of confidence on NNPC management, the group urged Nigerians not to play the second fiddle for any reason since they were the direct victims of the hardship orchestrated by those who did not mean well for the nation.

Source: http://www.naijavoiceweb.com/2017/12/31/fuel-scarcity-group-accuses-oil-marketers-of-sabotage/