DSS Intervenes In Lingering Fuel Scarcity

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has given a two-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other oil sector players to end the lingering fuel scarcity in the country. 

How’s this a concern of the DSS? 

This was disclosed by the DSS’ spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, during a press conference yesterday in Abuja. Noting that people may be wondering why the DSS is intervening in a fuel crisis, Afunanya stated that the DSS has the constitutional mandate to detect and prevent threats to Nigeria’s internal security, a threat that the lingering scarcity may become. “You might be wondering what our business is on this issue. Don’t forget the Constitution charged us with the mandate of detecting and preventing any threat against our internal security”, he explained. 

Is there enough fuel in the country? 

According to the DSS spokesperson, who said that the DSS had just held a meeting with NNPLC and other stakeholders in the downstream sector, there is enough fuel to cover at least the remaining weeks of the year. “The NNPCL said there are 1.9 billion barrels of petroleum in stock and all the stakeholders agreed to that”, Afunanya said, adding, “Among the resolutions reached at the end of the meeting is that the marketers will be operating for 24 hours on a daily basis”. The DSS also said it will provide security to aid the distribution of fuel across the country. 

Afunanya added that all DSS commands across the country have been placed on red alert and would commence operations to bring defaulters to book, once the two-day ultimatum ends.