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House of Representatives has unveiled plans to investigate the rationale behind the scarcity and incessant hike in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) across the country.
The resolution, as passed, was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Sergius Ogun, who frowned at the arbitrary increase in the price of petroleum products.
Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of the motion include: Yussuff Lasun, deputy speaker; Bashir Babale and Aminu Shagari, called for the intervention of the House with the view to address the effects of the economic recession on the citizenry.
In his lead debate, Ogun faulted the undue increase in the price of the cooking gas produced and supplied to the domestic market by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), in which the Federal Government is a major shareholder.
The lawmaker noted that gas was sold to marketers and paid for in naira, unlike other petroleum products priced in US dollar and were therefore subject to foreign exchange fluctuations, which sometimes affect the supply and availability of the products.
He said these players end up doing nothing to stem the rise in price, which was usually proceeded by scarcity of the products.
According to Ogun, in 2016, the price of 2.5 kilogram of gas increased from N2,700 to between N3,500 and N4,000, depending on the vendor, and the same quantity of the product is currently selling between N5,000 to N6,000.
He expressed worry that the lack of information as to the exact reason for the constant scarcity and hike in the price of the product did not bode well for the nation.
This, he explained, had given the impression that the sector was completely unregulated.
He added that citizens were at .the mercy of the players in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) Industry.
“If the reasons for the incessant hike in price and the scarcity of gas which is locally produced without any foreign exchange components is not investigated, the citizens will be further impoverished by the exorbitant price.
“If not checked, the citizens can also be forced to adopt alternative but less healthy methods of cooking,” he said.
In his contribution, the deputy speaker, Yussuff Lasun, blamed the hike in price of cooking gas on the activities of the militants in the Niger Delta region, saying, “The issue goes beyond the price of cooking gas but also had effects on the country’s economy.”
Lasun, therefore, called for more efforts to address the restiveness in the region.
Also speaking, Bashir Babale lamented that the hike in price of cooking gas, kerosene and coal was alarming, as the common man can no longer afford it.
On his part, Aminu Shagari, who stressed the need for the National Assembly to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians, argued that the hardship was becoming unbearable for Nigerians.
While ruling on the motion, peaker Yakubu Dogara mandated the joint Committee on Gas Resources and Petroleum Downstream to investigate the issue and report back to the House within six weeks for further legislative action.
