Senate condemns persistent fuel scarcity, raises probe panel

THE Senate yesterday directed its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the current fuel crisis in the country.

This decision was sequel to the adoption of ‎a motion by the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, in which he drew the attention of the Upper Chamber to the biting fuel crisis, which he declared was causing great hardship to Nigerians.

“I think it’s legally and morally wrong to keep silent about it, sweep it under the carpet and to continue to believe these things are usual,” Ningi said.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, noted that since Ningi raised the motion under personal explanation, the House would not debate it but rather approved his prayers.

Ekweremadu said, “Ningi’s prayers are simple and straightforward. He is asking us, as representatives of the people, to direct our committees on upstream and downstream, to find out what is currently going on the oil sector and possibly find a way of addressing it.”

Also the Senate yesterday confirmed President Goodluck Jonathan’s nominees into the board of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

The confirmation came against petitions filed by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and other stakeholders.

Ekweremadu added: “In that regard, we now ask our committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), to find out what is going on and what the government is doing about it and report back Tuesday next week. That is our wish.”

Ningi had said that since the Senate still had the mandate of the people‎ until June 1, it had the responsibility to intervene in the unfortunate development.

Ningi added, “We need to know whether fuel scarcity has come to stay. We need to know whether it has become part of our life.