“I apologise” Buhari appease Nigerians over petrol scarcity

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has apologized to Nigerians over the petrol scarcity and power outage experienced in the country.

According to a statement released on Wednesday, March 16, by his media aide Garba Shehu, the President said the federal government is working round the clock to attend to the issue.

On petrol scarcity, Buhari said;

“The administration knows the fuel shortage has placed a strain on Nigerian citizens and businesses, but relief is on the way. I especially apologise to all sections of society for this.

“The government is working round the clock to attend to this issue. An action plan agreed upon earlier this month is being implemented to address the scarcity.

“Working together with the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), this plan is now bearing fruit. Sufficient fuel supply has returned to a handful of states, with the queues at stations falling. In the coming days, we expect this to be the case across the rest of the country.

“Looking to the longer term, funds are being targeted toward keeping fuel availability affordable for the country. The international energy markets have surged drastically in recent months, the government will however ensure that consumers are protected against these price spikes.”

Buhari also said blackouts seen due to the problem with the national grid are also being addressed. The statement added;

“A dip in hydroelectric generation due to seasonal pressures has coincided with technical and supply problems at thermal stations.

“On this, the government is also working tirelessly to resolve the issues at the latter to guarantee sufficient power flows into the national grid.”

President Buhari who is currently on a medical trip to London granted an audience to APC leaders, Mai Mala Buni, and others.

Buni was in London to see the President over the leadership crisis rocking the party. Recall that a few days ago, some governors in the party had made an attempt to remove him as the chairman of the caretaker committee. This decision met stiff opposition from INEC which indicated that it only recognizes Buni as the chairman of the party’s caretaker committee.

Meanwhile, Nigerian governors scheming to remove the Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Mai Mala Buni, failed in their attempt as President Buhari, put his foot down on Wednesday, insisting that he should be allowed to continue as the chairman of the party.

Buni also canceled the meeting of the National Executive Committee, which had been called by the acting Chairman of the CECPC, Abubakar Bello, who is also the Governor of Niger State.