Date Published: 02/16/10

NNPC; FUELLING LIES ON THE NTA By Imohimi Uduigwome Airenevboise

After over two months of fuel scarcity those in charge of the oil sector suddenly realized that it was time to give some Nigerian a relief by ensuring that they made fuel available not for all, but only for Lagos and Abuja consumers. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in its usual myopic standard of broadcasting went to town (i.e. Abuja) and showed vehicles buying fuel with ease and gave the false impression that fuel was now available in all Nigerian cities. 

In order to ensure that Abuja and Lagos had fuel, the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) went dramatic and established what it chose to call a “war room” with a war room studio for added effects. What is the purpose of the war room studio? Is it to inform Nigerians that fuel is now available or to use the NTA to hoodwink the minister of petroleum and the presidency (or is it Acting Presidency) that the fuel situation was now under control. I believe that the seven day ultimatum given to the top brass of NNPC was to make fuel available in all towns(or at least all state capitals) and not just Abuja and Lagos. Professionally what the NTA ought to have done was to state that “while the fuel situation in Lagos and Abuja has improved the NNPC is working assiduously to replicate the same feat in other towns across the nation” Its this kind of media stunts (distorted reports) by the NTA that probably made President Yardua to do an interview with the BBC! 

With Goodluck now in charge and possible changes looming in government, ministers and special advisers have started to wake up from their hibernation and come out of their holes. One of them ,the special adviser on petroleum recently came out of the woodworks and trudged (with the NTA)to the NNPC war room to congratulate them for providing fuel for citizens of Abuja(if fuel is available in Abuja ,other towns should not complain) and castigated the public for criticizing the NNPC. According to Dr. Special adviser, Nigerians should commend NNPC for doing the job they are paid to do! With that type of comment, it makes one wonder the nature of advice Yardua had been receiving and acting upon. Probably that’s why we are in this chaotic situation. The Acting President should take heed of the advice offered to Princes (rulers) by Nicollo Machiavelli in his book “The Prince”. He wrote that once a Prince is able to pick good (intelligent and honest) advisers his task of been a good leader (ruler) is half way accomplished. 

For a Minister whose daily activities revolve round Abuja and Austria, I guess we can pardon him that he is not aware that fuel is available at the official price in only two towns in Nigeria which in effect means that NNPC has failed to carry out his order that fuel be made available within seven days or was the Minister referring only to Abuja and Lagos? This I doubt and then perhaps his ultimatum was an empty threat, a sort of “shakara” so that his Austrian friends will stop embarrassing him with their taunts that he presides over the petroleum ministry in an oil producing nation and Nigerians still experience fuel scarcity! 

All we hear from the NNPC is deregulation, deregulation and deregulation but how come they are not telling us why our refineries are not working and what happened to billions of Naira provided over the years for the turn around maintenance(TAM) of our refineries. By the way when next NTA goes to the NNPC war room here are a couple of questions for the chubby looking NNPC officials. When will other towns be able to buy fuel with ease at the official pump price? When will our refineries work? What caused the fuel scarcity and are they telling the good people of this great nation that if the Petroleum Minister had not issued them a seven day ultimatum they would not have done the job they are paid to do? 
 

Imohimi Uduigwome Airenevboise