Nnpc Decries Misinterpretation Of Kachikwu’s Statement, Says Fuel Queues Will Disappear In Weeks

BEVERLY HILLS, March 24, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has regretted the “misinterpretation” of an otherwise innocent and sincere assessment of the fuel supply situation in the country made by its Group Managing Director, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu when he interacted with State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

Kachikwu, who led members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to a meeting with President Buhari, was reported to have said he was not a magician when asked about the lingering fuel queues at petrol stations as well as reportedly saying that the fuel scarcity will persist till May.

But a statement issued same day by the NNPC's Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Mohammed clarified that the corporation is doing everything possible to end the noticeable fuel queues in most part of the country in the weeks ahead, noting that Kachikwu, who is also the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has activated the enablers to ensure sanitization of the fuel supply and distribution matrix.

Mohammed said: “The Minister’s candor is in keeping with the regime's policy to be open and sincere with Nigerians at all times.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is pertinent to state that efforts are in full gear to eliminate all extraneous factors which have so far impeded the free flow of petrol across the country, especially the issue of foreign exchange for oil marketers which the Honorable Minister is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to resolve.

“While apologizing to Nigerians for the recent hardship in assessing petroleum products, the NNPC assured of normalization of the fuel supply and distribution system in the weeks ahead.”