Fuel Adulteration: Northern Group Calls for Management Resignation
By Abdullahi Alhassan Kaduna
HOTPEN – The Coalition of Concerned Northern Forum has called on the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to resign from their position over what the group tagged as a colossal failure to discharge their duties.
The group said “we condemn in totality the current persistent scarcity of petroleum products across the nation, the said scarcity is aimed at embarrassing the current administration by its enemies and unpatriotic elements from within.
The NNPC’s General Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, and Engineer. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority should tender their resignation with immediate effect for negatively breaking the record of the current administration over persistent fuel scarcity.
“Since 2015 till date, we have over two GMD’s, while some are from our region and the other is from South-South region to our greatest surprise as Progressives all the past GMDs of NNPC including Mr. Ibe Chakukwu have helped the current administration greatly, in ensuring that all petroleum products meet our nation’s required standard and also ensured no scarcity and fuel queues in our filling stations even during festivities.
In a press statement signed made available to Journalist in Kaduna, by it Spokesperson, Comrade Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem,
Read in part “History can’t judge the current leadership of NNPC fairly, because, out of 8 years, the current administration has spent over 6 years without fuel scarcity and queues in our feeling stations, and the same administration has less than 2 years to go, but strangely, fuel scarcity has surfaced and importation of an adulterated PMS which has never happened in the history of our country pointed towards discrediting the record of Mr. President and the Honourable. Minister of Petroleum.
“NNPC in connivance with un-recognized, un-licensed or faceless importers and relevant agencies that has to do with importation of petroleum products are dragging us backward due to their deliberate errors.
“NNPC’s quality inspection unit which comprises of GMO, SGS, Geochem, and G&G did not conduct any test before the said products were discharged, the above units are saddle with the responsibilities of ensuring that the products are not above our required standard, yet the same unit has up till date equipment at her disposal with adequate funding for such tasks.
The Statement further said “the NNPC tried severally to cover up these mess and their gross incompetency, but we are all witnesses to how those they alleged to have imported the product with high Methanol qualities above our required standards came up with superior point and position to vindicate their companies and maintained that they knew nothing about it, rather NPCC should bury their head in shame and stop chasing shadows and be patriotic for once.
The statement added that “The mistake made by NNPC under the current management has caused us a lot as a nation, for instance, they claimed it will cost our nation over 200 billion to mop up and sanitize the adulterated fuel and at the same time we don’t have enough facilities, so they will have to evacuate the bad products first before we can have access to the new products to move to the domestic market, and as at today, the said products have already damaged many automobiles, generator’s, machines and other sundry equipment of citizenry nationwide.
“We therefore on behalf of the people of our region demand for the following within 72 Hours
“Identification of all households with such mentioned cases and adequate compensation paid to them for their damaged automobiles, machines, and equipment within our region.
“All the management staff of NNPC should be sacked without any compensation
“NNPC management should make public genuine and comprehensive names of those involved in this National scandal and embarrassment.
“Or if our demands are not met in the next working days, we shall occupy all NNPC zonal offices and its subsidiaries across our region and the FCT.
“This is not just a mere threat, we will follow up with full action after the expiration of our ultimatum and this will serve as a litmus test on the part of the Government on their fight against corruption and indiscipline.