Senate probes fuel scarcity

The Senate on Thursday asked its committees on Petroleum Resources (upstream and downstream) to commence investigation into the remote and immediate causes of fuel scarcity in the country.
This was sequel to a motion by Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and deputy majority leader, who prayed the red chamber to pay close attention to the biting fuel crisis which was creating great hardship for Nigerians currently.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, noted that since Ningi raised the motion under personal explanation, the Senate would not debate it but would rather approve his prayers.
Ekweremadu said: “Ningi’s prayers are simple and straightforward. He is asking us, as representatives of the people, to direct our committees on Upstream and Downstream, to find out what is currently going on in the oil sector and possibly find a way of addressing it.
“In that regard, we now ask our committees on Petroleum Resources (upstream and downstream) to find out what is going on and what the government is doing about it”.
The committees are to report back on Tuesday next week.
Ningi had while moving his motion said since the Senate still has the mandate of the people until June 1 it had the responsibility to intervene in the development.
His words: “We need to know whether fuel scarcity has come to stay. We need to know whether it has become part of our life. We need to plan. By planning and talking about it we are sensitising Nigerians to brace up for the impending issue of fuel scarcity whether it is going to be here permanently or temporary.
“But we can’t know all these things until we hear from the experts. Therefore, my prayer is to ask the committees on downstream and upstream to come up with explanations next Tuesday through which Nigerians will know and plan their future.
“Otherwise, I think it is legally and morally wrong to keep silent about it, sweep it under the carpet and to continue to believe these things are usual.”