Fuel Scarcity: Buhari regrets suffering, orders clamp down on hoarders; As Fayose urges Prayers for our country at Christmas

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday sympathized with Nigerians over their suffering as a result of scarcity of petrol across the country, reassuring that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is on top of the situation.

Reacting to the long queues of motorists at various filling stations across the country, in a statement personally signed by him and posted on his twitter handle, Buhari said the scarcity was regrettable.

He stated that he was being briefed regularly on the matter by the NNPC and assured that the situation would improve positively in the next few days.

Buhari disclosed that he had already directed the regulators to step up their surveillance and bring an end to hoarding of the products and price inflation by marketers.

He said, “The fuel scarcity being experienced nationwide is regrettable.

“I sympathize with all Nigerians on having to endure needless fuel queues.

“I’m being regularly briefed, especially on the NNPC’s interventions to ensure that there is enough petrol available during this period and beyond.

“I have the NNPC’s assurance that the situation will improve significantly over the next few days, as new shipments and supplies are distributed across the country.

“I have also directed the regulators to step up their surveillance and bring an end to hoarding and price inflation by marketers,

“Let me also assure that the relevant agencies will continue to provide updates on the situation. I thank you all for your patience and understanding.”

Across the country, fuel is being old per litre for between N175 and N300 in most filling stations owned by the independent petroleum product marketers.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday, 24th December urged Nigerians to pray fervently for the country during this yuletide period for divine intervention in her affairs.

In his Christmas message contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, the governor said divine intervention was needed for the country to overcome the series of crises it found herself.

“This is a festive period that people ought to be in the celebration mood, but we now have people groaning in pains inflicted on them by the ineptitude of those in leadership position.

“Even the joy people had when they were told insurgents disturbing the peace of the land had been defeated later became short lived, as almost half of our excess crude oil savings is being proposed to fight ‘technically defeated’ insurgents.

” While wishing the good people of Ekiti and Nigerians in general a merry Christmas, I want us all to not be discouraged by the failure of the nation’s leadership, but to trust in God who can right all wrongs,” he noted.

While thanking Ekiti people for giving him a rare privilege of leading them twice as governor, Fayose said he would never betray the confidence reposed in him.

“Whether in or out of office, Ekiti and her people would always remain paramount in mind.

“This may be the last Christmas I would celebrate with you as the state governor, but I have the strong conviction that we would celebrate more together when God would have taken me to higher level where I would have to serve our dear state and country in a broader capacity,” he added.

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