President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday ordered that producers and suppliers of off-spec gasoline imported into the country be held accountable.
The federal government had said on Tuesday that methanol found in recently imported fuel exceeded Nigerian specifications.
The development has resulted in gasoline shortages and queues reappearing in major cities, including Abuja and Lagos.
The government said on Wednesday that its national fuel reserve was short for 10 days as a result.
On Wednesday, the federal government said it will conduct a major investigation into the circumstances surrounding the importation of adulterated fuel into the country.
In a belated statement on Wednesday, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited Managing Director Mele Kyari named MRS, Oando, Duke Oil and Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium as the suppliers of the products. contaminated. .
Buhari said the people involved should “take responsibility for substandard services or products they sell,” according to a statement from his assistant, Garba Shehu.
“Reacting to the problem of the shortage of petroleum products linked to the involuntary supply of products of foreign origin in the Nigerian market, President Buhari said that the protection of the interests of consumers is a priority of the present administration and is ready to take all necessary measures to protect consumers from dangerous products, loss or injury from the consumption of substandard goods.
“The president directed that, according to the law, service providers must fully disclose relevant information about the consumption of their products and that dissatisfied consumers are entitled to adequate redress for their complaints,” the statement said.
He added that the president has instructed the relevant government agencies to take all measures in accordance with the laws of the country to ensure the respect and protection of consumers against market abuses and social injustices.