President Mubammadu Buhari has vowed to deal with groups responsible for the fuel scarcity experienced during the yuletide season in the country.
Speaking during his new year address Monday, the president expressed sadness that the season was not so happy and merry for many Nigerians because they either could not travel as a result of the fuel scarcity or had to pay huge amount of money to undertake their journeys.
He said he is determined to get to the root of those behind the scarcity to ensure that such occurrence does not happen again.
“I join my fellow citizens this morning to welcome and celebrate the New Year 2018. This year promises to be pivotal in our quest for CHANGE.”
“Unfortunately, I am saddened to acknowledge that for many this Christmas and New Year holidays have been anything but merry and happy. Instead of showing love, companionship and charity, some of our compatriots chose this period to inflict severe hardship on us all by creating unnecessary fuel scarcity across the country.”
“The consequence was that not many could travel and the few who did had to pay exorbitant transport fares. This is unacceptable given that NNPC had taken measures to ensure availability at all depots. I am determined to get to the root of this collective blackmail of all Nigerians and ensure that whichever groups are behind this manipulated hardship will be prevented from doing so again.”
“Such unpatriotism will not divert the Administration from the course we have set ourselves. Our government’s watch word and policy thrust is CHANGE. We must change our way of doing things or we will stagnate and be left behind in the race to lift our people out of poverty and into prosperity.”
