The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has accused some petroleum marketers of frustrating the government’s efforts to make the product available to motorists.

Mr Sylva made the allegation when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking on the recent emergence of queues at petrol stations across the country, the minister said the NNPC and other stakeholders were working to address the situation.

“At the moment today, there is supply but unfortunately we are experiencing some bottlenecks in the distribution and movement of the product to various destinations.

“We have reports of profiteering by marketers and I have directed the pricing regulatory agency, Nigerian Midstream, and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to sanction anybody who profiteers in this kind of situation,” Mr Sylva said.

The minister also disclosed that the federal government had approved N117 billion to construct the Oloibiri oil museum in Bayelsa.

“The Federal Executive Council today approved the award of the contract for the construction of the Oloibiri Oil Museum and Research Centre to Julius Berger PLC in the sum of N117 billion with a completion time frame of 30 months,” he said.

According to him, the proposed museum will also serve as a research centre to enhance academic activities.

The minister stated the museum was started in the early 80s by late President Shehu Shagari, but could not be continued due to paucity of funds.

He, however, revealed that the current administration had injected life into the project because of its importance.

Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed that the council approved N721 million for the award of a contract for the maintenance of the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.

“It is a contract that was awarded for airport maintenance and technical support at Mallam Aminu Kano Airport in Kano.

“It will be for a period of 12 months and the sum of the contract is N721 million and the memorandum was approved,” he said.

While giving an update on the introduction of a national carrier for the country, Mr Sirika said all arrangements had been concluded and the carrier would soon commence services.

“Nigeria Air will soon start flying. We have got the aircraft ready, they have been painted in their colours.

“We are now at stage five, which is Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issuance by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and once that is done, the airline will begin to fly,” he further revealed.

(NAN)