The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has constituted a special task force to tackle fuel scarcity and long queues at filling stations nationwide.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Emmauel Okeh, the spokesperson of the corps and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
The statement said that Mr Abdullahi Gana, NSCDC Commandant-General, gave the order after a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.
It said that Gana directed the task force to monitor loading of PMS at the depots and its distribution at filling stations.
It said that the directive was in line with the corps mandate to protect critical infrastructure and national assets against vandalism and acts
of sabotage.
The statement said the task force, headed by Commandant Mohammed Haruna, the head of anti-vandal unit, would ensure effective discharge of the product across the country.
It said that the NSCDC had made significant progress as many filling stations now had fuel to dispense to motorists.
It added that 200 personnel had been deployed to the FCT, while 50 personnel each have been deployed to other states of the federation.
The statement urged Nigerians to be patient as the corps was doing everything possible to ensure that the lingering petrol scarcity would disappear completely in a matter of days.
It also urged members of the task force to see the assignment as service to their fatherland, adding that there should be no act of sabotage or compromise.
It warned that officers and men caught conniving with marketers to divert petrol to black marketers or sell above the pump price would be dealt with decisively. (NAN)