The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) has engaged the Department of State Services (DSS) and Economic and the Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop the hoarding and diversion of petroleum products.

This is contained in a statement issued by NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The statement said that the arrangement was to assist in the monitoring of nationwide fuel truck-out to retail outlets and stop hoarding by unscrupulous marketers.

It said NNPC was doing everything possible to normalise the fuel supply and distribution situation in the country.

The statement said NNPC also apologised to commuters, motorists and the general public for the hardship faced in accessing petrol across the country.

It said the Group Executive Director Commercial and Investment of NNPC, Dr Babatunde Adeniran, during a visit to NNPC depot in Suleja, warned the marketers against sharp practices.

“Any marketer found wanting in the sale of petroleum products, including the NNPC retail outlets would be sanctioned appropriately.

“There will be no sacred cows as the corporation is working round the clock by supplying sufficient petroleum products to marketers to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed a yuletide season without pain.

“We must all make sure that petroleum products get across to Nigerians at the regulated price, especially as the yuletide season approaches.

“We have enough products and we want to plead with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) not to be involved in the diversion of petroleum products in order to avoid causing untold hardship to motorists.”

It said the Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, said defaulters would be sanctioned.

“The DSS and EFCC will arrest any marketer involved in sabotaging government’s effort in making petrol available to Nigerians.”

“We have invited the EFCC and DSS to join us in this campaign of monitoring the movement of petroleum products and they have our mandate to sanction any errant marketer, enough is enough.”

The statement urged Nigerians to desist from panic buying, saying that there were sufficient petroleum products to satisfy local consumption. (NAN)

•Photo shows Petroleum Minister of State, Dr Kachikwu.