President Buhari Promises To Look Into Burundi’s Request For Fuel Supply Assistance

President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to consider the request made by the Republic of Burundi to provide fuel supply assistance as a show of "African solidarity" and "brotherhood."

This was disclosed in a statement titled, "President Buhari assures Burundi of brotherly support," signed by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, The Cable Reported.

In the statement, Adesina stated that Buhari assured Audace Niyonzima, Burundi's Minister of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, that Nigeria would extend support to Gitega in various ways in the spirit of African solidarity and kinship.

Responding to the Burundi leader's request for assistance with energy provision, particularly fuel, Buhari said he knows what it feels like for a country to suffer from an energy shortage.

The president, thus, promised to look into the request made by the government of Burundi for assistance with their fuel needs. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited will be tasked with investigating the situation.

"On request for assistance in the area of energy provision, particularly fuel, by the Burundi leader, President Buhari said he knows what it feels like for a country to suffer from energy shortage, and promised that he would get the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to look into the request," the statement read, as per Premium Times.

The President made the promise Tuesday at the State House in Abuja when he received the Special Envoy to Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye.

During the meeting, Niyonzima extended Ndayishimiye's goodwill for the new year to Nigerians and President Buhari. Ndayishimiye also expressed his desire for a successful outcome in the general elections scheduled to take place in February and March, according to the special envoy.

This development came as Nigeria, the world's 6th biggest oil producer and a country that heavily relies on the importation of petroleum products, left people confused amid the scarcity of petrol, diesel, and kerosene in filling stations for months now.

Nigerians have been struggling with petrol shortages across the country, resulting in increased black market sales. There have been suggestions that oil marketers may be hoarding the product to force a price hike.