Kabiru Marafa, a senator from Zamafara has warned that oppositions of the president Buhari’s government might create issues that will lead to petroleum scarcity in the country. He equally mentioned that the president has been making moves to make sure that there is a smooth flow of petroleum product supplies. Then, he explained that there have been some murmurings in the sector, particularly on marketers’ payment processes from the Ministry of Finance. He said that the outstanding payments are as much 800 billion naira. And with that, marketers may revolt soon. Senator Kabiru Marafa is the head of the committee on petroleum downstream. In his reports from the meeting with President Buhari, he said, “Basically, there are two issues. One is regarding the committee I chair in the Senate, that is the committee on downstream.
”There has been some disquiet in the industry regarding marketers’ payment with ministry of finance, DMO and the Central Bank, which we feel if not carefully handled, some enemies of the administration might bring about technical issues that could lead to queues, especially when government has provided enormous quantities of petroleum products across the country that can last the country up to six months through NNPC.”
He continued, “So, some people are not too happy about it and they want to sabotage the efforts of the government.
“So, I’m the chairman and the president being the minister of petroleum resources, I came to share some information and tap on his versatile experience in the industry as a former Minister of Petroleum Resources 40 years ago; so there is abundant experience there.” “Number two is on the political situation of my state; you know, to also tap on his experience of governance and may be conflicts resolutions and so on. We have had a very good time and I got enormous advice on the way forward.” Senator Kabiru Marafa stressed.
He later emphasized, “We are now talking of technicalities; there is fuel in the country, on our seas, in our depots all across the country. But there are some technicalities now regarding payment of subsidies, forex differentials and interest, which this government inherited.”
”They are not a creation of this government. However, the government is a continuum and when the president came in he was confronted with it and he agreed and said fine I have stopped subsidy but since there are claims, we will look into it and pay.”
“But now, the bureaucratic nature of the computations is what dragged up to this time and depots owners are not too happy with what ministry of finance has done and maybe some other agencies. So, we have been on it in the Senate and the House of Representatives for almost two weeks now.”
“Finally, I have had quality time with president and we have looked into the whole thing. By next week, we will invite all the stakeholders. I believe we should be able to get to the root of the matter.”
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