The Nigerian Senate today directed its committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream) to commence an investigation into the causes of the persistent fuel crisis currently ravaging the country.
The directive was handed down after a motion moved by the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, who prayed the senate to pay attention to the fuel crisis that has created hardship for Nigerians.
Responding, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, said since Ningi raised the motion under personal explanation, the senate would not debate it but rather approve his prayers.
Ekweremadu said: “Ningi’s prayers are simple and straightforward. He is asking us, as representatives of the people, to direct our committees on upstream and downstream to find out what is currently going on in the oil sector and possibly find a way of addressing it.
“In that regard, we now ask our committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), to find out what is going on and what the government is doing about it and report back on Tuesday next week. That is our wish.”
In moving the motion, Ningi said since the Senate still have the mandate of the people until June 1, its responsibility to intervene in the unfortunate development remains.
He said: “We need to know whether fuel scarcity has come to stay. We need to know whether it has become part of our lives. We need to plan.
“By planning and talking about it, we are now sensitising Nigerians to brace up for the impending issue of fuel scarcity whether it is going to be here permanently or temporary.
“But we can’t know all these things until we hear from the experts. Therefore my prayer is to ask the committee on downstream and upstream to come up with explanations next Tuesday through which Nigerians will know and plan their future.
“Otherwise, I think it’s legally and morally wrong to keep silent about it, sweep it under the carpet and to continue to believe these things are usual.”
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