OrderPaperToday – The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to supply fuel to its floating stations in the Niger Delta.
The decision followed a motion moved by Dagomie Abiante (PDP, Rivers) on Wednesday during plenary.
Leading the debate on the motion, Abiante explained that the floating stations which cost around N900million each was borne out of the necessity to supply fuel to the riverine areas of the country.
He explained further that in 2005, the Federal Government directed the construction of floating mega stations to ameliorate the difficulty associated with transportation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to the riverine areas of the country.
He said there was an approval of “300,000 litres to ensure regular supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) at approved retail prices in the creeks to ease the difficulty of the riverine communities and to boost their commercial activities.”
The lawmaker however expressed concerns that for over a year, NNPC has refused or neglected to stock the floating mega Sstation at Bonny in Rivers State with products thereby defeating the noble intention of the government, and as a result, plunged the entire communities dependent on the floating stations into hardship.
He cautioned that the gains of price stability, relative peace from restiveness, ease of living and doing business, and the sense of belonging has been lost in the riverine communities.
He further disclosed that illegal bunkering, adulterated products, “black market” and other related crimes are now finding opportunity to thrive in the region.
The House therefore mandated its committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Legislative Compliance to work out modalities for ensuring compliance and report back within four weeks for legislative action.
Leave a Reply