Fuel Scarcity: Buhari Vows To Deal With Those Who Inflicted Hardship On Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed
sadness over the unnecessary hardship inflicted
on Nigerians during the Christmas and New Year
celebrations following acute petrol scarcity
across the country.
The President, who stated this in a nationwide
broadcast in Abuja on Monday to mark the New
Year, attributed the hardships to the activities of
few but heartless individuals working within the
nation’s oil and gas sector.
He, however, reiterated the determination of his
administration to get to the root of the persistent
petrol scarcity and ensure that whichever groups
were behind this manipulated hardship would be
prevented from doing so again.
Buhari said: “Unfortunately, I am saddened to
acknowledge that for many, this Christmas and
New Year holidays have been anything but merry
and happy.
“Instead of showing love, companionship and
charity, some of our compatriots chose this
period to inflict severe hardship on us all by
creating unnecessary fuel scarcity across the
country.
“The consequence was that not many could
travel and the few who did had to pay exorbitant
transport fares. This is unacceptable, given that
NNPC had taken measures to ensure availability
at all depots.
“I am determined to get to the root of this
collective blackmail of all Nigerians and ensure
that whichever groups are behind this
manipulated hardship will be prevented from
doing so again.”
President Buhari added that the activities of such
unpatriotic individuals would not divert his
administration’s determination to uplift the
quality of life of the citizens.
He said: “Our government’s watch word and
policy thrust is CHANGE.
“We must change our way of doing things or we
will stagnate and be left behind in the race to lift
our people out of poverty and into prosperity.”