Sabotage responsible for petrol scarcity – Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said acts of sabotage is responsible for the current fuel scarcity in the country.
Kachikwu, however, assured Nigerians that government would address the systemic issues facing the distribution chain of the product.
The Minister spoke with State House correspondents on Wednesday after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.
Kachikwu said: “We are hoping that by July we will be able to sign up agreements that will enable

upgrades and joint venture of the refineries to take effect.
“We expect that to last for about 12 months and we expect that by 2017 we should have all the refineries back where they ought to be.
“The target is that by 2018 we will reduce fuel import by 60 per cent and by 2019 with our refineries producing 400,000 barrels, we will exceed our refined importation and begin to export petroleum products.”
According to the minister, the present fuel queues are due to sabotage, saying that some marketers are diverting the products to the hinterlands for economic gains.
Kachikwu said: “As at today, we are delivering about 1,200 trucks.
“By weekend we should be delivering same number of trucks.
“It will take a bit of days to even out but you can see improvement already.
“I hope by the end of next week, with the refineries helping us to stay on course, every part of the country will get fuel.”
NAN.