*offers solution for the grid lock caused by parking of tankers on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway
The patriotic stance of and call by the chief executive of Capital Oil Group, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah to petroleum marketers to recommence round-the-clock loading and distribution of petroleum products from all depots nationwide has yielded instant success.
According to Dr Ubah who acknowledged having commenced action together with all his staff, tankers and drivers since Sunday May 24,2015 said he want all patriotic citizens and stakeholders in the industry to go back to their duty posts at once in the interest of the nation, her citizens and good conscience.
In a statement, he noted that, “on Saturday 16th May 2015, we received an SMS ordering the suspension of loading activities in all depots from Monday 18th 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.
He assured that “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 apapaexpressway. 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.”
Ubah’s personal intervention has therefore forced the recalcitrant members of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers that have been on a nationwide industrial action to suspend it immediately. The strike action has held all sectors of the nation’s economy by the jugular as the Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) which is the commonest in demand nationwide has for some days been selling between N200-N1000 per litre, thereby subjecting commuters to intense hardship.
This is the second time Dr Ubah was taking this bold step to save the masses of Nigeria. He had earlier few years ago supplied and distributed kerosine direct to the masses nationwide under his “Kero Direct” initiative, when the product became hard to come by nationwide. The initiative saw him become a household name as all Nigerian house wife and families sang his praise and prayed fervently for him. They variously saw him as an example of love and leadership by example. He has now done it again!
