The federal government has appealed to Nigerians to exercise more patience as the fuel scarcity problem continues to linger across the country.
The Minister of State for petroleum, Timipre Sylva who made the appeal in a statement on Sunday made available to newsmen by his media aide Horatius Egua said all concerned agencies are working round the clock to make fuel available as soon as possible.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari appreciates the hardship the fuel scarcity has brought on the citizens and has directed all concerned stakeholders to restore normalcy as soon as possible.
The statement added that the situation and the attendant hardship are regrettable but the government is working towards a lasting solution.
“In the last weeks, Nigerians have grappled with fuel scarcity not because of the absence of supply of products but due to inspection failure, which allowed adulterated products into the country.
This is regrettable, and the Federal Government sympathizes with the citizenry over the unforeseen hardship, occasioned by the inevitable scarcity.
Let me once again appeal to Nigerians to be patient with the government in finding lasting solutions to the crisis,” Sylva said.
While acknowledging the lapse which caused adulterated fuel to be brought into the country, he said the blame game must be avoided, adding that when normalcy is restored, then investigations will follow and all those found guilty will face the law accordingly.
“It is not a time to trade blames as is customary in Nigeria. It is, therefore, not a time to query anyone but a time to come together to salvage the plight of the average Nigerian.
After the storm settles, there will be time enough to investigate and get to the bottom, so that this does not repeat itself.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s charge to all parties and agencies concerned is to work together to ensure that normalcy returns quickly.
The Nigerian people deserve the best and the government is determined to set the country on the right path of petroleum products availability and sustainability,” Sylva added.
