Fuel scarcity: Group moves against oil cartels, plans nationwide monitoring

In an apparent move against oil cartels creating artificial scarcity of petroleum, a group, The Natives, has resolved to put together a monitoring body across the country against saboteurs.

The Natives, a joint action of citizens composed of students bodies, youth groups, local communities, NGOs, CSOs and other special interest groups, vowed to collaborate with security agencies to burst the ring of saboteurs in the oil sector.

A statement released on Wednesday by its president general, Smart Edwards, called on the Federal Government to put an end to all monopolies, diversions and arm-twisting of NNPCL for private profit.

It said: “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.

“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 group noted that it would enlighten citizens and set up a monitoring corridor around the operators in this sector.

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.