Fuel scarcity to persist unless -- PENGASSAN
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) says fuel scarcity will persist unless government builds more refineries.
Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN’s Deputy General Secretary, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos that the only solution to the reccuring fuel scarcity was for government to expand the existing refineries and build new ones.
“Our position has always been that we can refine locally. The four refineries can be restructured and they will become efficient,” he added.
Okugbawa said the country could not produce more than 18 billion litres, whereas it needed at least 30 billion litres for local consumption.
He blamed the current problem on high rate of pipeline vandalism, impatience and speculation by motorists of an increase in the pump price of petroleum products.
The union’s scribe urged government at all levels to improve the security situation in the Niger Delta to curb the wave of hostage taking.
He declared: “People will continue to agitate for their rights if their demands are not met.
“It is sad that from genuine agitiation, criminality has set in, and that is because the people’s demands have yet to be met.”
Okugbawa urged the governments of the Niger Delta area to join hands with the federal governemnt to solve the problem and ensure that the money voted for the area wasjudiciously utilised.
The current fuel scarcity being experienced across the country is reported to be gettingworse in the Lagos metropolis, with the price of a ten-litre can of petrol going for N1,500.