By Innocent Anoruo Production Editor [Daily Independent]
The lingering fuel and kerosene scarcity nationwide is set to get worse with the shutting down of the facility of the Capital Oil and Gas Limited operations on Friday.
The operations of the firm was suspended following a court order by Justice A. Abdu-Kafarati of the Federal High Court Abuja which mandated the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to take over the possession of all the properties and assets of Capital Oil and Gas pending the resolution of all outstanding issues with the firm.
On Saturday, Sunday Independent confirmed that no activities were going on at the massive tank farm of the Capital Oil and Gas in Apapa, Lagos, with numerous customers of the company rueing the action of AMCON, Assess Bank and other collaborators.
Some of them who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity said what those who shut the company had done was capable of causing additional hardship to Nigerians who are already suffering due to the scarcity of essential products like fuel and kerosene which Capital Oil and Gas plays a leading role in their distribution.
Most of the staff of the organisation were also found stranded just as several sympathisers of the managing director of the firm, Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, rained curses on those who are making things difficult for the common man in the country.
This newspaper learnt, however, that more hardship awaits Nigerians who use fuel and kerosene products as the Capital Oil and Gas controls more that 35 per cent of the fuel imports and supply in the country.
The situation is also set to get worse as the Yuletide season is fast approaching.
On Friday, the management of the Capital Oil and Gas raised alarm over the procurement of the court order to seal their facility and recalled that before the court order by AMCON its operations had been threatened.
“That a company like ours which accounts for about 35 per cent of daily petroleum products distribution in Nigeria can be the subject of such an application and court order is baffling. The government has refused to pay us. It would appear that those who want to take over our business are succeeding with the aid of their friends in government.
“We empathise with the long-suffering masses of Nigeria who have been experiencing long queues in filling stations, non-availability of petroleum products as well as high cost of transportation.”
Capital Oil has in recent time been immersed in a crisis of alleged contract breach with Assess Bank and Coscharis Limited over importation and distribution of petroleum products, the matter of which is a subject of litigation.
It would be recalled that Capital Oil recently got an order of the High Court in Lagos stopping its harassment by Assess Bank and Coscharis Limited, an order that was yet to be vacated before the AMCON went to go its own from Abuja which was enforced immediately.
