PROBLEMS OF INADEQUATE FUEL DISTRIBUTION IN NIGERIA

In 1996, Crude oil allocation for Local consumption was reduced from 3000,000 to 250,000 barrels per day. The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation had been supping crude oil for finished products, which was not in the interest of Nigerians.

By this arrangement between October, 1994 and August, 1996, according to the former Finance minister Mr. Anthony Ani, cost between eight and ten million barrels of crude oil

1.1            GENERAL BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM OF INADEQUATE FUEL DISTRIBUTION:

The problem of inadequate distribution of fuel in Nigeria and Enugu State in particular can be attributed to so  many reasons ranging from corruption by government officials, bunkering, smuggling bureaucracy and insensitivity of government to the plight of the masses.

The multi-facet problems of fuel shortage in Enugu State became acute daring the petroleum and National Gas senior Staff of Nigeria and National Union of Petroleum and National Union of petroleum and Gas workers. There were cases of unrest due to the fuel crises. The fuel shortage in Enugu then was so serious that the government had to announce from time to time on media houses each petrol station that received allocation from Nigeria National Corporation Depot in an effort to avoid diversion. In the wake of the crises, motorist passed nights queering for the purchase of fuel which are hard to come by.

1.2     PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INADEQUATE FUEL DISTRIBUTION ON THE SOCIETY.

The problem associated with inadequate fuel distribution are; during fuel scarcity, a lot of hardship is meted to the generality of Nigerians both in the rural and urban areas. People do a long distance.