The President and Commander In-Chief Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari Aso Rock Villa Abuja, Your Excellency

                                                                              April 25, 2016

The President and Commander In-Chief

Federal Republic of Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari

Aso Rock Villa

Abuja,

Your Excellency

HOW TO PERMANENTLY END FUEL CRISIS IN NIGERIA-CHIEF AYIRIMI EMAMI

Sir, it is quite evident our country is going through a trying time as a result of the sharp decline in the Price of Crude Oil at the International Market, no thanks to the intriguing interplay by OPEC and non-OPEC members.

Recent reports credited to the Immediate Past Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Okonjo-Iweala on reasons why Our Nation is facing the current economic woes, especially as it affects the inability of the last Federal administration to save for difficult times like this, says it all.

Your Excellency, it is cheering news that your administration is working round the clock to address the suffering the average Nigerian goes through every-day as a result of the present fuel crisis.

Permit me to use this opportunity to once again make it abundantly clear that no one should blame the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu for the fuel crisis in the country. The problem we are facing in the oil and gas sector is inherited and the economic sabotage caused via the recurrent vandalism of pipelines should attract the condemnation of all and sundry. In-fact, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu should be commended for his untiring efforts aimed at revamping ailing infrastructures in the oil and gas industries.

The fact that the hitherto comatose Four Refineries in Warri, Port-Harcourt and Kaduna owned by the Federal Government have commenced production after long years of neglect by previous governments, attest to your administration’s determination to finally solve the fuel crisis, that has  bedeviled Nigeria over the years.

Mr. President, while these efforts by your administration should be commended by all well-meaning Nigerians, it must however be noted that even if the Four Refineries owned by the Federal Government refine products at full capacity, which will still take quite a while to attain, the Federal Government will still not be able to meet the daily demands of Nigerians as it affects consumption of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as fuel as well as diesel, kerosene and other crude oil products.

Sir, apart from being a major stakeholder in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the resolve to reshape the socio-economic and infrastructural fortunes of our great Country, I am also a key player in the Oil and Gas Industry.

It is in the light of the above, that I humbly suggest that your administration relax the stringent policy on Forex a little and assist Major Marketers who import PMS and other Petroleum Products to get easy access to Forex. This will greatly help Marketers import Petroleum Products, especially fuel to make up for the deficit in Nigeria’s domestic consumption need.

I am also strongly of the view that Labour Unions such as the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, TUC, NUPENG and PENGASSAN should encourage the Federal Government to deregulate the oil and gas sector so as to allow the forces of demand and supply come to play.

The Marketers should be allowed to sell the imported products at prizes that keeps them in business amid some level of policy regulation by PPPRA, it will go a long way in making sure that your administration’s determination at permanently solving the recurrent fuel crisis is attained and products will flood the market in such a manner that diversion will become history.

Your Excellency, as a Niger Delta activist, it has also become imperative for me to draw your attention to a policy of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC and the PPPRA. The policy bothers on the directive by Petroleum Marketers and Owners of Filling (Gas) Stations not to sell PMS on gallons. The initiative is quite laudable, because it is one sure way to discourage racketeering of fuel, especially in Urban Towns and Cities. The policy is however increasing the hardship of Niger Delta people living in the Coastal Communities. It is common knowledge that in the riverine area where I come from, there are no petrol stations and products are often sold at expensive prices of between N300 to N450 per litre, even when such products flood urban areas at the regulated Federal Government prices. Fuel is reportedly being sold at an average of N600 in parts of the Northern States as well as the South East due to the current crisis. This perhaps tells the agonizing experience people living in the riverine areas, whose poverty level is further worsened by the fuel crisis, are undergoing. As at today, the price of PMS per litre in Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area and other riverine communities in the Niger Delta is between N1, 000 and N1, 500 per litre.

Mr. President, in order to immediately address the sufferings of people in the Coastal areas of Niger Delta, it is my candid appeal that you direct the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC and other relevant government agencies to make sure that measures are immediately put in place to ensure that fuel, kerosene and other crude oil products get to the riverine dwellers at affordable amount. This task can be assigned to Petroleum Marketers familiar with the difficult terrain of the Niger Delta region. It will stop illegal oil bunkering activities in the Coastal Communities and Ultimately Raise Nigeria’s Daily Crude Oil Output.

Sir, you can always count on critical stakeholders like us from the Niger Delta in your dream of building a genuine foundation for all-round development across the country.

Chief Ayirimi Emami

Ajuwaoyiboyami A.K.A Akulagba of Warri

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