APC senators frustrate move to summon Buhari over fuel scarcity

Yesterday, efforts by PDP senators to convince the Senate to summon Pres. Buhari, who doubles as the petroleum minister, to give reasons for the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country, were frustrated by APC senators.

The PDP senators, who berated Buhari’s handling of the current economic situation in the country, insisted that he be made to a appear before the Senate to give explanations on the cause of the fuel scarcity and how he intended to solve the issue.

The Senate President however put it up for a voice vote and the APC Senators, who were more in number, won. Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Aliyu Sabi, explained that as the C-in-C, it was wrong to summon Buhari. He said, instead, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu would be summoned to brief the Senate on plans put in place by the FG to end the fuel scarcity.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa, APC, Lagos East, while also contributing, called for the approval of the supplementary budget which contains the amount proposed for payment of subsidy to the marketers. He pleaded that the issue be treated with uttermost urgency.

Meanwhile, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the Senate must take the issue of passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) seriously if scarcity of petroleum products would end in the country.