Fuel Scarcity in Nigeria- an NNC’s Perspective

Nigeria of recent has been going through another round of fuel crisis with attendant queues at Petrol Stations across the country. The imminent cause remains in the realm of speculation; an apparent attempt by the government to hike the pump price of fuel, Pipe vandalization by vandals, port congestion, just to mention a few.

This issue of fuel crisis seems to have no end in Nigeria for it seems to be always going on in circles, in an undulating curve over time. But we still come to the question, what is the cause of this?

Fuel Scarcity in Nigeria seems to be an irony for us regarded as a land of abundant oil supplies. Nigeria is the 10^th country with the largest oil reserve after Libya which is in the ninth position in the world (Oil & Gas Journal, Vol. 103, No. 47 (Dec. 19, 2005). From: U.S. Energy Information Administration). That is, Nigeria ranks second in Africa after Libya in the countries with the highest oil reserves in Africa. Yet we have scarcity of this product. A serious irony you would say.

The question now is, have the dark days of the military regime returned again? Why, this is because a fuel queue is a major relic of the dark days of the military juntas that held sway in the country for about 30 years. Where hoarding of the product, black market selling, adulteration of the product was the order of the day. Perhaps it is better to say, it’s the hang over effects of the military that is still holding sway and rearing its ugly head every now and then. So we should ask then, what is the reason behind the fuel scarcity in Nigeria in this democratic dispensation? Oil officials adduce the reason to

a) Panic-buying, b) Petrol hoarding, c) Striking oil workers, d) Broken-down refineries, e) Fears of war in Iraq, f) World oil markets according to a BBC report. But there are other reasons as well. Of recent, inspection of the oil content being imported into the country by Department of Petroleum Resources showed it contained a high level of ethanol which damages engine of vehicles. The standard ethanol content acceptable in the country is 5% meanwhile that imported was between 20% - 25% which is quite high! Another reason is pipeline vandalisation with devastating loss of lives due to fire explosion by illegal scooping of the fuel by Nigerians in different parts of the country.

So what can we do to resolve this perennial fuel scarcity that haunts us like a faceless voice in the dark? That tears at the fiber of our development the way a Lion tears up its victims mercilessly.

Different attempts have actually been made by the government to solve this problem. In particular is the repair of the refineries in the country. Presently, the refineries operate at a combined 75% capacity with Port Harcourt refinery supplying the bulk of domestic needs. This means that the majority of the products come in via importation. The government is trying to bring the refineries up to full capacity by deregulation which to me seems not to be working.

Also, the government seems to be stepping up security at the various pipelines to forestall vandalisation, how long this will take and how efficient it will be is still a matter of time.

But it all seems not to be enough to tackle this problem or the government is overwhelmed by its many responsibilities to its citizens. So what actually is the way out.

A New Nigeria

A group off passionate young Nigerians have decided to come together to forge a common front for the development of our country Nigeria. Our prayer is enshrined in the second stanza of the national anthem of our country. So, what are we actually proposing?

We are proposing a situation in which the solution to this fuel scarcity would not be a perennial government headache or the government must proffer a solution way. We are saying that we can actually sit down and chart the course we want to follow for the solution to this problem.

One of the things we are proposing first and foremost is a reorientation of our value system. That is, we need to see value in our country and in ourselves. Change starts from within out. We need to see that together we can make our nation worthwhile for us.

To this fuel scarcity, we can actually talk to ourselves and say lets stop panic buying. When panic steps into a situation, all sense of reasoning is lost. Let’s look out for an alternate source of energy instead of fuel for our vehicles. We can actually sponsor a research into the use of solar energy for power and any other alternate source of energy. Nigeria happens to be a country overflowing with untapped resources. Water is there, solar is there, wind and let’s just name a few!

Okay, crude oil seems to be all we have for now, fine, let’s pool funds together and build a private refinery that would be working at 100% capacity and meeting local demands. Let the government privatize the refineries and let’s buy up a majority shares in it and inject a new life into the refineries. Let’s run them the way we would want to run our own personal companies which would be our only source of living. Let’s see it not as it is every bodies business and let see it as our responsibility. Our business.

So in effect, we are saying, fuel scarcity can be solved if we look inwards and develop other forms of resources around us, nurture our dreams and actually work towards achieving it and implementing it! Nigeria brims with potentials, we need only reflect deeply, and we are on the path of glory. Long live Nigeria! Long live the Nigerians! Long live NNC!

New Naija

As I prepared to write this post, sequel posts came to mind. I just discovered that more than 50% of my posts on this blog have been about Nigeria; It's either I asked a question as in "Nigeria, How Far?" Or I give a clue into the prophetic destiny of my great country as in "The Nigeria Of My Dreams" and several other posts. One thing however has been the central theme of all these posts, I believe so much that this state called Naija will work, it doesn't matter how many things have gone wrong, Nigeria is not doomed! "God pass dem". I know we are so blessed yet so stressed, I know we can not guarantee an average Nigerian the basic things of life, I know that most Nigerian live below 1 dollar per day, does it matter? It really doesn't matter that the Power Holding Company Of Nigeria holds the the power more than necessary, Nigeria will work!

In my last post I hinted about an idea that would soon be hatched. It's no longer news that idea has not only be hatched, a new dawn is here for Nigerians and all the lovers of Nigeria; It has come in the mould of the New Naija Club.

The New Naija Club is an association of a group of people determined to always keep the vision of New Nigeria on the front burner.

The New Nigeria Dream : A Nigeria that is value driven and prosperous. A Nigeria that is one of the most desirable places to live on earth. A land of opportunity, of freedom and of hope. A Land where the strong help the weak, where everyone has the opportunity to be their best. A Nation that’s the envy of the world.

Watch out! a New Nigeria is emerging and all hands are on deck. We are joining resources, we are spreading a positive epidemic, we are constantly brainstorming on ideas, we are well aware that the New Nigeria Project will take so much from us, but we are not only ready to spend, we are ready to be spent for this cause.

Long Live New Naija Club!

Long Live Naija!!

Nigeria- How far?

Today is a very important day in the history of my dear country-Nigeria. This will be the first time ever that there will be a Civilian to Civilian transition, while we relish this monumental milestone, the Nigerian story leaves people like me with so much questions than the answers i could garner. It pains my heart that we had only very little to do about what "they" have done for us; they rigged the elections, they killed innocent people, they looted our treasury with reckless abandon, all because they wanted to perpetuate themselves in power. Not to talk of their PARTING GIFT to us; a litter of Petrol now sells for N75. When I look at all what they have done and the pains that my people are continuously exposed to I weep from within.

Nigeria is not doomed, we will not forever be at their mercies, Nigeria is a nation destined for true greatness and she shall be great!

My many qestions for Nigerian Leaders Pt 1

As we begin a new year and prepare for the forthcoming elections, methinks this is the best time to ask our incumbent and aspiring leaders some pertinent questions; so that the latter will come to terms with enormous taks ahead of him and the former will check the scorecard and know how well he has fared.
It never ceases to bother me why a nation as blessed as my dear nation could still be so stressed and except our leaders and indeed all Nigerians answer the following questions, our dream of a better Nigeria could be one step further. Does this mean that I have lost confidence in the Nigeria State? Obviously No! I believe so much in this country that I even blogged about the "Nigeria of my dreams", but a stitch in time they say saves nine. Our leaders have sown to the wind and we are now reaping the whirlwind of all sorts of menace, it has grown so bad that the"son of a butcher, who should have access to all sorts of meats is now left with the only option of eating bones" ( Native Nigerian adage).
1. When will the average Nigerian be proud that he is from this country?
2. When will power outage and shortage be a thing of the past?
3. When will Nigerians stop rejoicing and dancing all about because they have what should naturally be theirs?
4. When will holding elective offices, stop being a route to syphoning our collective funds?

Why?
These and many other quetions are boiling in my heart.

THE NIGERIA OF MY DREAMS.

1st October 1960, rings a bell in the mind of the average Nigerian more than the most

popular nursery rhyme; the reason is not far fetched, that was the day Nigeria attained

Independence, my dear Nation was declared free from the hands of her task masters.

Inspite of the foregoing truth, a question never ceases to bother my heart, is Nigeria

truly free?

Time and space would restrain me from giving a detailed picture of how well our dear

nation has fared in the last 46 years of her independence, but, Wouldn’t fail to chronicle

some really mind bogging events and happenings that shook Nigeria to her foundation;

I will do that just to refresh our memories and also to lay a very good foundation for my

the joy of our dear Nation was cut short; no thanks to the dastardly military incursion

That led to the death of several notable Nigerian.

An occurrence that will forever linger in the memory of every Nigerian, is the civil war

which was engendered by the threats of a particular region to secede from the blessed

Whole-Nigeria. What was left after the war could only be captioned by the popular phrase

sorrow, tears and blood, and what a huge relief it was when the war ended early 1970,

with the feuding parties declaring, " No victor, No vanquished"

Many had thought that the Civil war had nailed the coffin of all that is called within the

Nigerian entity, but, as the military continued to wield power at will, the situation worsened.

A brief democratic stint, could do nothing to improve the lot of our dear country, what

many had thought would be the grapevine was tagged Hope 93; Nigerians went to the

Polls in what was regarded as the freest and fairest election to have held in the country.

Just as the National Electoral Commission( NEC) was about announcing the results of

the election, a monster hijacked the ballot boxes and went into the wilderness with them,

the Philanthropist that won the election was denied! All the that happened are now history

but it's difficult to forget the lessons we learnt, before our Maradonic General stepped

aside with all gorgeous pomp.

The Interim National Government, the government of the late General, the short stay of

the now thickly bearded man from the power state, all left us with more questions than

answers. The present dispensation, now in its seventh year has done some things, but,

how well have we fared as a nation? Our leaders have sown to the wind and we are now

reaping the whirl wind of collapsed buildings, air crashes, killings and murders, rebellious

attacks and a great economic down turn, but, is Nigeria forever doomed?

I belong to the breed of Nigerians who can see far and well through the eyes of faith;

Nigeria is never doomed. Our financial fortune that has turned upside down is so

positioned, so that it can turn right side up. I see the transition of the present Nigeria

into that we've long dreamt of , I see a Nigeria where the Pound Sterling will be at par with

the Naira as it was at a time. I see a Nigeria that will receive standing ovations among the

comity of nations and as such become the cynosure of all eyes and the centre of attract

ion. I see a Nigeria where foreigners would be refused entry visas due to high influx of

people from all race; a Ngeria that will require some of the Oyinbos to do some of the

menial jobs around.

You had better sound a note of warning to the US-the economic might, please tell Japan-

the technological might to watch out for the emergence of a new Nigeria from the crucible

of divine process. As we await the glorious arrival of the Nigeria of our dreams, lets

continue to lend prayers for its actualization. It will surely happen!