The Senate is at the verge of probing the management of the fuel subsidy, while expressing its determination to unravel the mystery behind the incessant fuel crisis which has caused untold hardship on Nigerians.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on petroleum (downstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa, briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday, apologised on behalf of the Senate to Nigerians in the untold hardship being faced, adding that the Senate was poised to find possible solutions to remedy the lingering fuel crisis.

He ‎decried the large scale corruption in the petroleum industry, lamenting the sharp practices in the sector with regards to subsidy payment.

Marafa said that fuel sells as high as N300 in some parts of the country and even unavailable at all for purchase.

On whether the substantive Minister of Petroleum, President Muhammadu Buhari will be at the hearing, Marafa stated that there would be no need to invite him, since the Minister of State, Ibe Kachikwu, would be present.

He reiterated that the Senate would convene an emergency public hearing on January 4 inviting the Minister of State for Petroleum, NNPC GMD, the Directorate of Petroleum Resources and other relevant stakeholders to hear their views on the incessant crisis.

Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi said the Senate was unhappy with the turn of events and happenings caused by the fuel shortages, adding that the Senate President said the situation had assumed an alarming dimension which urgently needed to be addressed.‎

The Senate Committee had carried out inspections before the commencement of the Christmas holiday and had been assured by NNPC GMD that fuel would be made available during the festive season.

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