.As GMD of NNPC apologizes to Nigerians over fuel scarcity crisis.
Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
Ahead of the 2023 general elections slated for February 2023 by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, the House of Representatives yesterday commenced the electronic voting process ahead of the election.
Speaker of the House Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who announced the move to commence voting by electronic means said the exercise ‘ll commence immediately after plenary of the House ahead of the clause by clause voting on the 1999 Constitution Review by the House.
Gbajabiamila said that lawmakers are expected to test run the e-voting system by casting their votes on the amended clauses in the nation’s ground num to ensure a seamless exercise when it commences.
He urged his colleagues to ensure that each of them cast their vote during the test run of the electronic voting platform to ensure that the process can effectively be deployed.
The e-voting platform was mounted at the upper chamber of the legislative seat of each of the 360 members of the lower chamber of the House and was being lived streamed in another television like instrument at the elevated wing of the House chambers.
Meanwhile, the House has mandated the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Malam Mele Kyari to ensure that all the depots and filling stations still selling the adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) stop the sale of the petroleum products
Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Quantity and Quality of Petroleum Products Consumed Daily in Nigeria Hon. Abdullahi Gaya gave the charge to the NNPC boss at an investigative hearing on the importation of substandard products by the NNPC at the National Assembly.
The GMD who appeared with other top officials of the agency at the investigative hearing however apologized to the lawmakers and many other Nigerian over the issue blaming it on the major marketing outlet of the agency-Duke Oil Limited.
He said: I apologize to this House and to other Nigerians on this issue honourable members. We did not see this coming and we apologize to Nigerians.
The NNPC boss also blamed the fuel supply crisis to the activities of a cartel in Antwerp Belgium in Europe where the national oil company imports petroleum products.
The Committee Chairman and other lawmakers in the panel nonetheless insisted that the helmsman of the largest corporation in West Africa ensures that all filling stations and other marketing outlets for the sale of the adulterated petroleum product recall the crisis prone products.
