*Dispatches 567 trucks nationwide to beat festive rush
Oscarline Onwuemenyi
22 December 2015, Sweetcrude, Abuja – In an effort to eradicate queues at fuel stations across the country, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has ordered the deployment of personnel of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to filling stations across the country for effective monitoring of the distribution system.
Speaking at an emergency meeting with the senior staff of the corporation at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja yesterday, Kachikwu said though there were a number of challenges in the supply and distribution system that hamper efficient distribution of products across the country, it was time for NNPC to rise above the challenges by ensuring that the special intervention supplies are not diverted or hoarded.
A statement issued by NNPC spokesman, Mr. Ohi Alegbe quoted the minister as stating: “This calls for effective monitoring of the supply system, especially at the end points, to ascertain that what is trucked out from the depots is delivered at the designated fuel stations and dispensed to the public in the most efficient manner.
“We need you to be out there to help achieve this; we can’t be at ease while Nigerians are going through so much pain to get fuel.”
The Minister called on NNPC staff to volunteer for the monitoring exercise, adding that standing up to provide creative solutions to challenges was what the new NNPC was all about.
The minister also urged the staff to work towards achieving zero-queues at their respective stations as soon as possible, adding that they should be ready to sacrifice their Christmas break if need be.
Also speaking at the emergency meeting, the Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, Dr. Victor Adeniran, advised staff on monitoring duties to work closely with the Rapid Response Team by reporting any situation that required urgent intervention such as low stock, delayed arrival of trucks or any underhand dealings.
Adeniran said the Rapid Response Team is made up of staff of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and representatives of law enforcement agencies who can adequately handle any challenge, adding that so far about 200 trucks of the special intervention stock had arrived Abuja.
He called on the staff deployed for monitoring to be vigilant and ensure that petrol designated for their respective stations is delivered and dispensed to members of the public in a most efficient manner.
In continuation of the special intervention fuel supply for the Yuletide season, another 567 trucks were dispatched nationwide yesterday, the corporation stated.