Nigeria: ACF, NLC Urge FG to Stop Fuel Scarcity

Kaduna — The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday urged the Federal Government to remove all obstacles hindering the availability of petrol in the north.

Also, yesterday the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called for an end to the scarcity nationwide, warning it won't accept any increase in fuel prices if government was using the scarcity as a ploy to raise prices.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting of the ACF's Rapid Response Committee, ACF said the unavailability of fuel in the north would further worsen the condition the region found itself as a result of security challenges.

The Rapid Response Committee under the chairmanship of General M.I. Wushishi, while expressing concern over the recent surge of violent conflict, especially in Kaduna, Plateau, Yobe, Borno and Zamfara states, where many lives had been lost, called for removal of all obstacles standing on the path of making petroleum available for motorists for the interest of economic activities.

On its part NLC in a statement by its Acting President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and Acting General Secretary Olusegun Rotimi respectively said it observed that for almost two months now, there has been a consistent scarcity of petroleum products in all parts of the country without any cogent explanation from government.

"In several fuel stations across the country, prices of petrol in particular are higher than the official pump price without any control by government.

"For us, this indicates a clear conspiracy on the part of government to force another price hike on Nigerians. This will sure deepen the economic hardships the current official price has unleashed on our people. "Should the appropriate agencies of government refuse to enforce compliance with the official pump prices of petroleum products, the NLC will not hesitate to mobilize workers across the country to picket stations selling above the official prices", the statement warned