Fuel Scarcity: Citizens-led Group Begins Monitoring Against Sabotage Nationwide
- Some Nigerian citizens have commenced an initiative to monitor oil marketers across the country in order to fish-out saboteurs
- The movement is a joint action of citizens comprising of students bodies, youth groups, local communities, NGOs, CSOs and other interest groups
- They vowed to collaborate with security agencies to burst the ring of sabotage in the oil sector and also in all affairs that affect ordinary citizens
FCT, Abuja - A citizens-led anti-sabotage group under the aegis of The Natives, has said it will do everything possible to defend Nigerians from being shortchanged by some cartels in oil sector, hence it will mobilize for a monitoring body across the country against saboteurs.
It, however, commended the management of the new Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) led by Mele Kyari, for putting measures in place to ensure that Nigerians are the real beneficiaries of the new policies in the oil sector.
Source: Getty Images
The Natives, which is a joint action of citizens comprises of students bodies, youth groups, local communities, NGOs, CSOs and other interest groups, vowed to collaborate with security agencies to burst the ring of sabotage in the oil sector and also in all affairs that matter to ordinary citizens.
In a statement sent to Legit.ng on Wednesday, December 14 by its president general, Smart Edwards, the group called on the federal government to put an end to all monopolies, diversions and arm twisting of NNPCL for private profit.
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The statement read:
"The transparency in the sector is for public good, the production of oil, PMS, GAS etc, are for public consumption, hence good service delivery is also required for the right public perception of the NNPCL, which is their goal too.
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"So we cannot leave them to continuously battle this cartel alone, they are being bashed left right and centre, when we know the perpetrators are living with us.
"We must raise this alarm and awareness amongst citizens. We must understand the facts, discover the missing links, know the factors hindering and fish out the persons or companies that are collaborators to end this reoccurrence.
"The Natives will enlighten citizens and set up a monitoring corridor around the operators in this sector.
"There are youths in the country who are patriotic enough, experts in the industry, intelligent and also energetic as well, who are available with integrity to achieve this mission. As the struggle to liberate citizens from all forms of oppression needs all hands on deck."
While commending the management of the NNPCL, Edwards said:
"We must appreciate the Mele Kyari-led NNPCL for embarking on this drive and assiduously taking up the task of rewriting the story of the oil sector.
With a NNPCL renewed vigour, breaking of monopoly for efficiency and giving citizens the room for participation, this new leadership must be encouraged.
The group added:
"Our national interest is far above the high demands of a few, we must support the management of NNPCL and the regulatory bodies. It is also important to assist genuine marketers in their noble businesses, not the ones bent on racketeering, sabotage and frustration of Nigerians.
"We have no other country, all players must make the sacrifices needed to end shortages on a short term and long term basis.''
The Natives commend DSS for ultimatum given to oil marketers, vows to work with NNPCL
Recall that The Natives recently assured Nigerians that it will work with the leadership of the NNPCL to expose oil cartels and saboteurs responsible for perennial fuel scarcity across the country.
The group also commended the Department of State Services (DSS) over the recent intervention to end artificial scarcity of fuel by the marketers across the country.
The nationals said the DSS intervention has been productive and drastically reduced the hardship motorists were going through as a result of long queues in filing stations.
NNPCL dealing with crude oil theft - Report
In recent years, Nigeria has been confronted with the challenge of identifying the perpetrators of crude oil theft and curbing the criminal act.
Crude oil theft is said to have cost Nigeria a staggering $1 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2022. Oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism have resulted in huge revenue losses to Nigeria.
It also prevents the country from benefitting from the current global oil boom, according to a Legit.ng report.
Source: Legit.ng
