President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, says the importation of adulterated fuel into Nigeria was not peculiar to the incumbent administration as such “glitches” had also been witnessed during General Sani Abacha’s military junta.
Mr Adesina, in an interview with Channels TV on Tuesday, said that the Buhari regime had managed fuel importation into the country for over six years without a glitch, adding that this particular one is a lesson for the country.
“The question also would be that if that system worked for six years, and that glitch didn’t happen, from that glitch, lessons can be learnt. That’s the simple conclusion I can reach. If it worked for six years and you didn’t have that glitch, case of adulterated fuel coming into the country.
“Recall that under the military, particularly under the regime of General Sani Abacha, we had cases of adulterated fuel. We had this case under General Sani Abacha,” Mr Adesina said.
“It happened (Under Abacha). Whether long or short, the point is that glitches do happen and the country must learn from it,” the spokesman insisted when probed further.
Mr Adesina, however, said the Buhari government was still investigating the matter, noting that “The President has resolved to probe what happened. It is not as if some people are culpable it would be overlooked.”
In the last three weeks, Nigerians have witnessed acute fuel scarcity and disruption of economic activities across the country due to the importation of contaminated fuel by authorities.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited had blamed importers MRS, Oando and others for the adulterated petrol crisis.
The House of Representatives has asked its committee to investigate the sale of adulterated premium motor spirit (petrol) to the Nigerian public, a move seen as another wild goose chase.
