Fuel Scarcity: Petrol Importation Scam Must Be Probed, Says Falana

• Falana said the government was not being upfront and honest on petrol subsidy, saying the NNPCL statement on fuel supply sustainability called for concern

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for investigation into the petrol subsidy claim and importation of the product into the country.

The legal luminary made call for  what he described as “importation scam” on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.

He said there must be comprehensive investigation by independent bodies into the dealings and operations of the NNPCL.

He said the National Assembly has shown that it cannot be trusted to diligently and dispassionately investigate the activities of the NNPCL.

“It is high time the importation scam was investigated, I am not talking of the joke that is going on in the National Assembly. The media must help, civil society organisations must help to expose the fraud.” he said.

The NNPCL on Sunday had said its ability to guarantee unhindered and constant fuel supply is in jeopardy due to the huge debts it is owing petrol suppliers.

Speaking on the development, Falana said the government was not being upfront and honest on petrol subsidy, noting that the NNPCL statement on fuel supply sustainability called for concern.

He said: “Once the government begins to speak about affordability and sustainability in response to growing queues at filling stations, there are problems,” Falana stated.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said “there is no full disclosure on the part of the government” on subsidy on petrol.

He said Nigeria can’t spend “$2.9bn to fix the refineries” yet the dates for the resumption of production at the refineries have been constantly being shifted.

Falana threatened to sue those responsible for the fixing of state-owned refineries if another postponement was announced.

Recently, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said the landing cost per litre of petrol has made it impossible for petrol marketers to import the essential commodity just as being done by the NNPCL.

“Right now, the landing cost of PMS is over ₦1,200, without the margin of the marketers, transportation and other logistics,” said IPMAN National Operations Controller, Zarama Mustapha.

“NNPC sells to marketers at ₦565 or so. That means there is a subsidy of almost ₦600 to ₦700 as of now.

“Whether they (government officials) say there is subsidy or there is not subsidy, the fact on the ground clearly states that there is something they are under-recovering.”