Collaborate to tackle fuel scarcity, Disco exploitation —CNG implores Presidency , NASS

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has tasked the Presidency and the National Assembly to work together to swiftly address the lingering fuel scarcity crisis and the recent rooftop electricity tariff in Nigeria as posterity would judge them in the end.

The CNG National Coordinator, CNG Com. Jamilu Aliyu Charachi spoke in a statement shared with journalists in Abuja on Monday.

President Bola Tinubu must engage with NNPLC and marketers to pursue an immediate and comprehensive solution to this artificially-created fuel scarcity as a ploy by unscrupulous elements in the system to sabotage it and ooze out the remnant of good life from ordinary Nigerians.

The CNG is dismayed that despite the assurances from the NNPCL, the fuel scarcity has continued to worsen selling above N1000 per liter, leading to skyrocketing prices of goods and services.

We are worried that if this situation is not addressed urgently, it could lead to further impoverishment and destitution of the already dejected Nigerians.

The statement reads:”The CNG demands that the Executive and the Legislative arms need to understand the implications of fuel scarcity on national security and the economy.

“The CNG argues that excuses from the Marketers and explanations from the NNPLC are flawed and untenable as there are no fundamental disruptions in the system that can warrant current predicament.

“The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the GMD of the NNPLC must explain measures being taken to end the fuel scarcity and ensure that fuel is available to citizens at affordable prices.

“The CNG urges the Federal Government and the National Assembly to take this matter seriously and act with urgency to address the situation as it has the potential to erode lives and livelihoods if left unchecked.

“We warn that if the issue is not decisively dealt with, Nigerians will continue to view them as monstrous and wicked people that are after their personal aggrandizement to the detriment of unsuspecting Nigerians.

“Nigerians may not continue to endure more sufferings due to the incompetence and corruption of a few individuals without due regards to their human dignity and minimum means of economic survival with a fickle prosperity.

“Similarly, the CNG is further alarmed by the perennial electricity blackout and recent tariff hike that have plunged Nigerians into darkness and economic hardship.

“The DISCOs backed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) have continued to charge Nigerians a new exorbitant price of N225 per unit as against the old N68 that the National Assembly instructed them to revert.

“We condemn this as unacceptable and the National Assembly must rise to the occasion utilizing their constitutionally-backed institutional response to ensure the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) comply with their earlier directive of reversing the exploitative tariff on Nigerians.

“The CNG contends that such policies have devastating impacts on the economy, security, and wellbeing of Nigerians, particularly in the northern regions.

“We urge the President through NERC to enforce compliance of reversion to the old price as instructed by the legislature as NERC and DISCOs must not continue the upward review amidst epileptic power supply that has stooped to an unprecedented low in recent history.

“Failure to revert to the old price in the interest of the people would directly depict the administration as unpopular, undemocratic and in complete departure from people-centric policies.

“The recent raise, which has increased the cost of electricity by over 200%, is not only discriminatory but also insensitive to the plight of the poor and working-class Nigerians through exploitations by the power sector operators.

“We challenge the leaders to prove their concern and compassion to the masses through leveraging on their power and influence to bring succor to Nigerians.

“We are therefore compelled to counsel President Tinubu to take result-oriented actions to put a halt to the dual devastating exploitations through artificial fuel scarcity and inhumane electricity tariff increment by a select few that must be held accountable.”