There are still patriotic Nigerians among the political
cadre as the Managing Director and CEO of Capital oil
held a press release today to announce the resumption of
loading of PMS at his jetty despite a collective sabotage
by oil transporters to stop loading which resulted in the
alarming strike hitting the nation now. Fuel is now
bought at N200 in some states while some can’t even
find to buy. Read his press release after screaming Yep!....
Good day Ladies and Gentlemen of the press!
On Saturday 16th May 2015, we received an SMS
ordering the suspension of loading activities in all depots
from Monday 18 May 2015. We later realized that this
directive was as a result of unpaid funds owed to
transporters by oil marketers who in turn are owed by
the Federal Government. This development has resulted in
immense hardship to our fellow country men and women.
We believe that a better solution can be pursued towards
solving this problem in a way that does not adversely
affect our dear citizens.
Capital Oil and Gas has watched with so much pain, the
suffering and hardship our citizens have been subjected
to as a result of scarcity of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel
and house hold kerosene. We are deeply pained to hear
that hospitals cannot perform surgeries, laboratories are
unable to carry out much needed tests especially for
emergency patients leaving such patients at risk of
dying, radio stations are shutting down, communication is
being affected as MTN and other telecommunications
company have announced an impending shut down
while homes, offices and key facilities nationwide are
experiencing blackouts. In some parts of the country,
petrol is already selling at an all-time high
of N1,000 per litre. Our citizens have left their homes and
are now sleeping in fuel stations, facing the risk of
robbery attacks and other attendant risk.
In a few days’ time, a new government headed by
General Muhamadu Buhari will be sworn in. Apart from
our citizens being unable to watch the handover on
television and unavailability of transportation for
attendees of this historic handover, the resulting chaos
from this scarcity may shutdown the Nation and
sabotage the efforts Nigeria has made to attain
greater heights.
We are constrained at this point and have decided that
two wrongs cannot make a right. We will not be part of
this sabotage against our fatherland. Therefore from this
minute, we shall take the risk of opening our facilities
and commence swift loading and distribution of products
Nationwide.
Our facility has the capacity to load over 13
million litres of product before dawn. This comes to
approximately 400 trucks of petroleum products. With
this act, it is our belief that once again our citizens will
begin to smile, return to normal family and work life. We
call on other petroleum marketers to follow suit and save
our Nation from this impending economic and social
crisis. This is a period that requires patriotism and
service to fatherland. Let’s join hands to help our fellow
citizens and save Nigeria. We also call on striking
bodies to call off the strike action. Let us work together
for the betterment of our people.
As we brief you this moment, our truck park, port
reception facilities and our depot complex have been
ordered opened. We are ordering and resuming discharge
of products from vessels at our berths. We have ordered
our trucks to commence loading of products and move
overnight to every state of the Federation.
Most importantly, we wish to use this medium to thank
NNPC and PPMC for their steadfastness in ensuring the
availability of petroleum products. Current PPMC stock
level in our storage tanks and buffer stock on vessels
awaiting discharge at our jetty is capable of meeting the
Nation’s need for 15 days.
Furthermore, we wish to emphasis that we have a total
solution to the traffic menace on the oshodi apapa
expressway. In the coming weeks, we hope to engage the
Federal Government (Federal Ministry of Transport),
Lagos State Government and other stakeholders in the
affected area, to optimally utilize our truck park facilities
which has the capacity to accommodate over 1,100
trucks per time and 5,000 on a shift basis.
Capital Oil and Gas continues to appeal to Nigerians to
accept and support deregulation as this will curb
corruption, enhance competition, lead to reduction of
pump price for petroleum products and ensure constant
supply to meet Nigeria’s demand.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah
Managing Director/CEO
Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited
Lagos, Sunday 24 May 2015.