Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has criticized the Department of State Services’ (DSS) 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and oil marketers to end the country’s lingering fuel scarcity due to security threats.
On Thursday, DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya stated that if Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is not made available to Nigerians, the services will activate their operations across the country.
Falana, who appeared live on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, described the ultimatum as an empty threat.
He emphasized that the NNPC was responsible for supplying petroleum products to all parts of Nigeria, and that if the organization failed to do so, the Federal Government was required to summon the officials and possibly relieve them of their duties.
“(As) you know, every year, at the end of the year – once it is Christmas – there must be artificial supply of fuel,” he said. “The ultimatum will not work because there is no sanction for impunity in Nigeria.
“The State Security Service (SSS) does not operate under the law in Nigeria. It does its own thing. There is nobody to call the agency to order. They will know that it’s just an empty threat because nobody is going to be arrested and prosecuted to teach a lesson.
“The other day, toxic fuel was brought to Nigeria. The government promised, ‘We’re going to deal with them, it will never happen again.’ Was anybody arrested? Was anybody prosecuted?
“It’s the same thing because they know the people behind it. It’s like oil theft. They know them.”
Falana acknowledged the secret service’s security concerns, attributing the threat to economic sabotage. He believes that the continued presence of long lines at gas stations could lead to “serious security issues.”
Citing the constitution, the senior lawyer stated that the police were tasked with maintaining the country’s internal security.
Falana stated that if the police are unable to maintain adequate internal security, the president has the authority to call in the military.
“So, this agency is a secret agency required to submit reports: ‘We fear that there will be a threat to the security in Nigeria.’ And the president will then take appropriate action. We must run this country in line with the provisions of the law.
“That (enactment establishing the DSS) is a decree made by the military. But now, we have the constitution. Section 215 has imposed a duty on the police to maintain the internal security of the country.
“But what the SSS – not DSS; it is not a department of state security. It is not a department of the Presidency. It’s the State Security Service for all of us.
“That body is required to submit reports to the government: ‘This problem may lead to insecurity. What can we do very quickly?’ The internal security of our country is the role of the police,” he said.
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