Fuel Scarcity: Femi Falana Reacts To DSS Ultimatum To Fuel Distributors In Nigeria

For some weeks now, there has been fuel scarcity across different states in Nigeria. The scarcity has given rise to long queues at fuel stations.

Suspecting the fuel scarcity is artificial, the Department of State Service (DSS) recently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to fuel distributors in the country to make fuel available or face problems with the agency.

However, reacting to the ultimatum given by the DSS, popular Nigerian lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has described the ultimatum as an empty threat during his live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, 9th of December 2022.

Citing reasons why he believe the DSS will not be able to do anything about the fuel scarcity, Femi Falana said that Nigeria does not sanction impunity and that the DSS is not an agency that operates under the Nigerian law. Falana said that the agency operates however it likes.

He said: “You know, every year, at the end of the year, once it is Christmas there must be artificial supply of fuel. The ultimatum will not work because there is no sanction for impunity in Nigeria.

He said that people often get away with offences as the artificial fuel scarcity in the country. The lawyer recalled that nobody was arrested nor prosecuted when toxic fuel was imported into the country several months ago.

He said: “They will know that it’s just an empty threat because nobody is going to be arrested and prosecuted to teach a lesson. The other day, toxic fuel was brought to Nigeria. The government promised, ‘We’re going to deal with them, it will never happen again.’ Was anybody arrested? Was anybody prosecuted? It’s the same thing because they know the people behind it. It’s like oil theft. They know them.”