ACCI to FG: Petrol scarcity hurting businesses… root cause should be addressed

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) says the persistent petrol scarcity is hampering the ease of doing business in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Emeka Obegolu, ACCI president, said the situation has made it more expensive for people and businesses to transport goods and conduct transactions.

He, therefore, called on the federal government to urgently resolve the challenge.

“The current fuel scarcity is hurting businesses and hampering economic activities. We urge the government to address the root causes of this problem as a matter of priority,” Obegolu said.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has assured Nigerians that the fuel queues across the nation will soon be cleared.”

The ACCI president also said the scarcity has led to “unpatriotic citizens taking advantage of the situation”.

This, he said, has caused a hike in petrol prices in some parts of the country and a consequent increase in transportation fares and logistics costs.

“We are hopeful that the upcoming Dangote refinery and other new refineries will help eliminate this ugly trend and make Nigeria self-sufficient and less reliant on fuel imports,” he added.

“ACCI as the leading voice of the private sector in FCT, Abuja, Nigerians will continue to be at the forefront of advocating for policies and interventions that support the growth and development of businesses.”

Obegolu also called on the NNPC to expedite the distribution of petroleum products across the country to ease speculation and reduce the hardship Nigerians are facing due to the scarcity.