Abuja angered over fuel shortages

ABUJA, Nigeria, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Nigerian lawmakers blasted their oil minister for delays at a refinery as the country wrestles with declining domestic fuel resources.

Members of Nigeria's House of Representatives said they were concerned that a refinery in Kaduna wasn't operating despite more than $80 million having been spent on the project, Nigeria's Next newspaper reports.

Clever Ikiskipo, the chairman of a committee investigating the issue, blasted Nigerian Oil Minister Rilwanu Lukman for allegedly neglecting the issue. Lukman, the chairman said, promised to have the refinery working by January.

"Now we are in February and nothing is happening, we want to know the level work (has been) done so far in relation to the money already committed to it," Ikiskipo said.

Residents in the northern Nigerian city of Kano complain fuel scarcity is creating a black market for fuel. The commercial city has suffered through months of fuel shortages, dragging on the economic sector.

Political instability in Nigeria, concerns over funding and militant activity in the Niger Delta region are wreaking havoc on the national energy sector.

Lawmakers said they would visit the Kaduna refinery next week to examine the progress themselves.

Nigeria relies on imports for 100 percent of its domestic fuel usage.