Fuel Scarcity: Oshiomole laments over N1000/litre petrol price, blames saboteur

Oredola Adeola

Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo State Governor, claimed that he recently bought a litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, at the rate of N1,000 per litre, lamenting over the persistent petrol scarcity and the rising pump price of the petroleum product.

The former President of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) confirmed this on Sunday when he featured on Channels Television’s election programme “The 2023 Verdict”, monitored by EnergyDay.

According to the former National All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, “on one occasion, I ran out of fuel, and I had to pay N1,000 for a litre.”

He confirmed that some persons are deliberately responsible for scarcity, aimed at inflicting pains on the masses and to frustrate the chances of APC and its presidential candidate, Aiswaju Bolad Tinubu, in the 2023 general election.

Oshiomhole said, in spite of the huge resources Nigeria spends on payment of fuel subsidy, the product is still scarce and the price is beyond the reach of most Nigerians.

He said, “As we speak, we are spending almost N7 trillion. The minister of finance spoke to the fact that we are spending about N7 trillion for fuel subsidy and yet most Nigerians found themselves paying much more than what the market rate would be and yet we have the Petroleum Equalisation Fund,”

“So, people are responsible for this,” Oshiomhole explained.

The former Edo State Governor however noted that fuel scarcity in Nigeria is not peculiar to President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, describing the development as a “perennial problem”.