FG begins investigation into adulterated fuel, may compensate those adversely affected

Yusuf Bello| The federal government on Wednesday said it will investigate the supply of adulterated premium motor spirit (petrol).

Minister of state for petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva who made the disclosure while briefing state house correspondents at the end of the federal executive council meeting, said
the decision to probe followed a briefing on the issue to President Muhammadu Buhari to get to the bottom of the matter.

“The issue did not come up in Council, but of course, you will recall I was here yesterday to brief Mr. President on the issue. I’m not in a position to disclose the identities of the companies, but there are some issues, and we are actively tackling it,” Sylva said.

“Nobody has, before now, checked for methanol in our fuel, it’s not very usual and this is the first time this is happening, and NNPC is very much up to the task.

“I will also convey your question to NNPC and maybe the Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, but we’re actively handling it, and I want to assure you that the problem will be a thing of the past very soon.”

The minister while responding to questions on possible sanctions, equally assured that government would consider compensating those who may have been adversely affected by the fuel.

“I didn’t expect you to rush to any conclusions. There’ll be a major investigation to unravel everything and then let’s get to the bottom of it before we can come back and tell you what is going to happen to the culprits, he said.

“We know that some people’s vehicles must have also been damaged, that is also going to be taken into consideration in dealing with the situation.”