The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday stated that the ongoing fuel scarcity across Nigeria was a deliberate attempt by the government to forcefully implement the deregulation policy in the oil and gas sector.
The labour movement, however, directed workers and Nigerians in generally to step up their ongoing mobilisaton against the anti-people policies of government.
NLC head of information, Comrade Chris Uyot, in a statement in Abuja, noted that Nigeria economy was heavily reliant on the industry and so did not deserve to be dependent on importation and at the mercy of greedy businessmen.
The statement read in part: “For more than a week now, it has been noticed in several parts of Nigeria, including Abuja, that long queues of vehicles have re-appeared in fuel stations due to scarcity of petroleum products in the country.
“While the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has issued a statement that the country has enough supply of petroleum products, the marketers have said the importation of the product has been stopped since two months running.
“Since motorists are in difficulty in accessing the products at pump stations, it is obvious that NNPC officials are either lying or up to some mischief.
“What seems to be the truth is that the government has stopped importation of petroleum products, and even what is available is being sold at exorbitant prices to marketers.? We hold the NNPC responsible for the current scarcity as it is the only source of supplies to marketers.”
He lamented that despite massive opposition to government’s plan to increase the price of petroleum products through the unpopular withdrawal of subsidy, the Federal Government seems determined to carry out the increases.