BEVERLY HILLS, December 24, (THEWILL) –Â President Mohammadu Buhari has finally spoken about the fuel scarcity experienced by Nigerians nationwide describing it as regrettable
The President in a statement shared on his verified twitter handle, also said he is regularly briefed by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on its intervention to ensure there is an availability of petrol across the country.
“The fuel scarcity being experienced nationwide is regrettable. I sympathize with all Nigerians on having to endure needless fuel queues,” he tweeted.
“I’m being regularly briefed, especially on the NNPC’s interventions to ensure that there is enough petrol available during this period & 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.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described this year’s Christmas as the worst to be celebrated by Nigerians as a result of the fuel scarcity.
The party said it was disheartening that Nigerians could not merrily celebrate the yuletide due to the current biting economic hardship worsened by the acute fuel shortage which it attributed to the shambolic policies, sheer incompetence and gross insensitivity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) -led Federal Government.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, described the nation’s economic situation as a national embarrassment which cannot be glossed with deceit, lies and propaganda.
“Indeed, this is the worst Yuletide ever. There is no way one can sugarcoat the fact that the anguish Nigerians face today is because of the incompetence of the APC Government, which has also amply demonstrated that it does not care about the welfare and happiness of the citizens,” the statement read.
“Our country’s economic situation has astronomically gone from bad to worse in the last two years and painfully, there is no hope in sight under this APC regime.
“As we speak, many families are completely stranded; many more can no longer afford their basic needs.
“Nigerians have become ravaged by economic hardship because the APC-led Federal Government has abandoned them and refused to channel the abundant resources available in the nation for the good of the people.
“Instead, they are heartlessly diverting such resources for their selfish political purposes while the people suffer. These horrendous realities imposed on us by the APC notwithstanding, we must not become despondent.
“Now that it has become manifest, even by their speeches this season, that those who promised Nigerians El Dorado do not have the littlest capacity to fulfil the smallest of their promises, we as a people must not also abandon ourselves.
“We must, therefore, rise above all divisive ethnic, religious and political considerations and make this season merry by helping and encouraging one another in love.
“The ugly situation we all confront today as a people must, therefore, serve as the catalyst for a prosperous tomorrow as Nigerians join hands with the PDP to restore our dear nation to the path of good governance and national prosperity come 2019.”
