Saboteurs behind fuel crisis —Balarabe Musa

A former Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has blamed the current petrol crisis on activities of saboteurs in the oil industry.

Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone from Kaduna on Thursday that Nigerians were going through this hardship due to selfish interest of some people.

He alleged that some petroleum marketers, in connivance with some government officials, hoarded petroleum products to create artificial scarcity for profiteering.

Musa said that this was the reason petroleum products were not available at filling stations and the price hiked at the black market.

He described the situation as unacceptable and urged the government to stop activities of “saboteurs” with a view to making the products available to all.

“It is very unfortunate that Nigerians are going through this hardship to get fuel which should be available to all.

“Without a doubt, saboteurs are behind this problem. Some marketers, with the conspiracy of some government officials, hoard or divert petroleum products for their selfish interests.

“The government should get to the root of this. We cannot continue to have this problem, especially in Yuletide period.

“Nigerians have suffered enough in the past few days. The government should find a lasting solution,” he said.

Musa said that Nigeria would continue to have this problem so long as people put personal interests above the public interest.

He said privatisation of some of the critical sectors of the economy had impoverished the masses while producing super-rich few.

The former governor said for the people to actually feel the impact of governance, the government should be more involved in the running of the economy.

He said that he was sympathetic with Nigerians over the fuel crisis and urged them to play their part in ending corruption in the system.