ON  Thursday,January 26, 2012, I learnt that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is responsible for most of the anomalies which often characterise the production and distribution of  petroleum products across the country. The report made mention of kerosene in particular.

It was said that the officials of the NNPC are in the habit of diverting kerosene to unauthorised dealers who in turn sell it at exhorbitant price per/litre to middlemen. This has resulted in an astronomical price of N120 or more per bottle being sold  to members of the public, with hardship as its concomitant effect.

No wonder people now find it extremely difficult to get kerosene at authorised filling stations, which the dealers themselves are complaining about.

But one is surprised to hear that the NNPC officials could engage in such a scandalous act, if the report be true.

  Another major problem according to thenews is non-storage facilites or preservative device for   kerosene, which makes it somehow difficult to get it across to the people in the event of breakdown of machine during production or other unforeseen circumstance.

On the other hand, one should not be surprised, because the heinous practice has been on for a while without being checked by the authority or provision of any appreciable solution.

But the idea to my mind is unpalatable. I believe that the Federal Government should look into these problems, especially the hoarding and diversionary practice of these shylock NNPC officials and their agents for their selfish interests.

Another thing government should do is to study the report of the investigation panel set up to look into the activities of the NNPC officials and implement all its recommendations, by removing or punishing those found culpable in the scandalous act in the interest of equity and justice.

Similarly, pending the outcome of the investigation, the government should instruct the NNPC officials to make arrangement and henceforth, ensure regular and adequate supply of kerosene directly to all authorised filling stations in the country by oil lifting drivers and monitor their activities to check hoarding, diversionary and exploitative tendencies of the unscrupulous agents.

The current price of N120 per bottle of kerosene should also be slashed to the former N50 of the same quantity and made stable in supply.
This way, many interested people will have the opportunity to buy and make use of the commodity with ease and comfort.

Ola-0laniyi Bamgbola,
Ibadan.

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