Stakeholders met at the presidential villa, Abuja on Monday to reassure the nation of an adequate supply of petrol and increased security during the Christmas season.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, chaired the meeting.
In attendance were the Group Managing Director (GMD), NNPC, Mele Kolo Kyari; the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu; representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Tariworio Dick; representative of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Comptroller General, Deputy Commandant General Operations, Hillary Kelechi Madu; Dr. Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya, National President of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers [NUPENG], Akanni Oladiti.
The NNPC boss said that there was enough petrol in stock for the season, saying that if there were other issues, the corporation will work with relevant agencies to resolve them.
He said: “We are here today to take stock of our readiness for the festive period, particularly in terms of supplies and distribution of petroleum products across the country, so that this festive period will be enjoyed by Nigerians without any hitch, particularly the Christmas and new year.
“We are very sure today that we have a very robust supply plan not just for Christmas but beyond. We are assuring Nigerians that the NNPC has made adequate arrangement to make an adequate supply of petroleum products.
“If there is an issue, we have come together with other agencies of government to ensure those issues are resolved to ensure Nigerians have a very Merry Christmas this year.”
In his remark, the minister of works and housing said the government has told its contractors to initiate some palliative measures on some roads to allow for easy movement of commuters.
“Some of these routes include Benin-Auchi-Okene, Warri-Sapele-Benin, Ilorin-Jaba road, Calabar-Itu road and other roads. This is essentially to say we are giving everybody the support we can to ease the problem of moving fuel during the period,” he said.
Also speaking, the Inspector General of Police noted that every Nigerian was expected to enjoy adequate security during the festivity period, adding: “For that reason, we have heightened the level of security within this period, not only the police but other security agencies are working together to ensure that the Christmas and even the new year is celebrated without any criminal incidents. “
He added that the police has increased security to protect the supply of petrol.
According to him, “In that area, we have again increased the level of security, dedicated some officers to make sure that products are moved freely without any attempt to divert products from where they are supposed to go.
“We have gotten commitment also from tanker drivers that we will work seriously with their drivers to make sure that nobody incites them or motivates them to divert products from where it is supposed to go.
“So, we are assuring Nigerians that Christmas will be crime-free, petroleum products will be available to everybody and it will move from one part of the country to the other.”
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