NEWS
fuel scarcity is a result of non-availability of forex-PENGASSAN
President, Mr Festus Osifo, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Wednesday has said fuel scarcity is a result of non-availability of forex. He implored the Federal Government to remove all forms of taxes and levies from the importation of petroleum products.
Osifo said,
“Although the increase in the price of crude oil in the international market is partly responsible for the surge, from our findings, the non-availability of foreign exchange (FX) at Central Bank of Nigeria rate to marketers is largely responsible for the increase as they source FX from the parallel market.
“This is without prejudice to the activities of unscrupulous marketers that are bent on milking Nigerians dry, “ he said.
Osifo, therefore, urged the Federal Government to remove all forms of taxes and levies from the importation of petroleum products.
He also called for the Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas and other gas producers to be mandated to focus more on domestic gas production.
“Efforts should be intensified to fast-track the current rate of rehabilitation of the nation’s four refineries to guarantee energy security; while on the short term, make FX available to the importers at the official rate.
“Should this abnormality and distortion continue, it has the ability to drive the country into another round of recession and further impoverish the already battered citizens,“ Osifo said.
