National President of the Union, Comrade Chris Isiguzo in a
statement said the importers of this fuel should be responsible for national
restitution as the issue cannot be politicised, especially as it has caused
damage to private auto assets.
According to him, it was regrettable to note that while the
public grappled with the painful reality on how to handle the matter, the
national oil company and some of the importers of bad fuel are going back and
forth on the matter.
The statement reads in part: “It has become imperative to
note that after over four years of uninterrupted availability of premium motor
spirit (PMS), Nigerians over the past few days have been grappling with buying
the products at filling stations across some parts of the country.
“The present challenge the Union understands is as a result
of the importation of PMS with higher than normal methanol level.
“Since the unfortunate development, it is regrettable to
observe that there have been some back and forths between the Nigeria National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and some of its designated importers over the “bad
fuel.”
“It is expected that as responsible corporate organisations,
the importers of the contaminated fuel will take full responsibility and seek
restitution for this national mishap.
“At the same time, the NUJ believes that with measures
already undertaken by the management of the NNPC, especially with a
presidential inquest on the way, there should be limits to politicizing such a
sensitive economic matter.
“Rather, what ought to obtain now is for a demand that the
probe panel as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari is conclusive, while
adequate compensation be paid to all verifiable claims of those whose vehicles
may have been affected by the high methanol PMS.
“Also, the NUJ after having appraised efforts by the Mele
Kyari-led NNPC management notes with satisfaction measures to shore up supply
of recalled contaminated fuel to ensure that Nigerians do not suffer
needlessly.
“We enjoin the NNPC through the Midstream and Downstream
Regulatory Authority to monitor filling stations to ensure that those with
products dispense them appropriately to curb artificial scarcity and undue pump
adjustments.
“At a time such as this national emergency, it is our duty
as citizens to support initiatives to stem such ugly situation,” Isiguzo
stated.