The Federal Government (FG) has sympathized with Nigerians on the bitting effects of the lingering fuel scarcity in the country, appealing to the public to exercise patience as the end to the crisis beckons.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva made the appeal in a press statement signed by his Senior Adviser (Media & Communications), Horatius Egua.
Speaking on the scarcity, Sylva said: This is regrettable, and the Federal Government sympathizes with the citizenry over the unforeseen hardship, occasioned by the inevitable scarcity. Let me once again appeal to Nigerians to be patient with government in finding lasting solutions to the crisis.
The Minister appreciated the Nigeria National Petroleum Corpration (NNPC) for showing so much concern to the plight of Nigerians by coming forward with an apology, nothing that the gesture was unprecedented and proved that we on the government side are not afraid to take responsibility.
He added that the he Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has been out on the streets, filling station by filling station to ensure that the situation normalizes quickly and we are beginning to see the fruits of their efforts.
“This is a time that calls for collective action to save a situation that was not foreseen. It is not a time to trade blames as is customary in Nigeria. It is therefore not a time to query anyone but a time to come together to salvage the plight of the average Nigerian.
“After the storm settles there will be time enough to investigate and get to the bottom, so that this does not repeat itself” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, Sylva said President Muhammadu Buhari’s charge to all parties and agencies concerned are to work together to ensure that normalcy returns quickly, noting that Nigerian people deserve the best.
Sylva said Buhari’s administration is determined to set the country on the right path of petroleum products availability and sustainability, as demonstrated in the award of the contracts for the rehabilitation of all our refineries and the acquisition of stake in the Dangote Refinery.
He urged Nigerians to stand shoulder to shoulder in the quest for a greater country.