June 01, (THEWILL) – Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has inaugurated a 12-man Joint Taskforce to stem the arbitrary pricing of petroleum products by dealers.
Inaugurating the team in Calabar, Thursday, Governor Otu lamented the untold hardship the people are facing occasioned by the fuel hike and urged the task team to immediately swing into action to normalise the situation.
Governor Otu mandated the team to discharge its duties without fear and to clamp down on any erring marketer who fails to adhere to government’s directives.
“So there’s no reason to hike price of petroleum products because in actual sense all the products on the ground have already been subsidised, including the premium motor spirit. The ones in the fuelling stations and the tank farms.
“The removal of subsidy regime will take effect sometime in July and there’s a transition period which of course the federal government knows what to do within the period.
“It is wrong for dealers to immediately hike the prices of this product because this is going to bring hardship to our people both in terms of mobility, movement of foodstuff and other essentials.
“I trust your capacity hence your appointment. I want you to do your job without any fear or favour. Don’t fail to seal up any station that does comply with the regulated prime regime or brings arbitrary in terms of this product.
“I hereby empower you to go and do your work fervently in all fairness to the good people of Cross River State including her peaceful residents, as well as those in transit”, the governor said.
Mr Boniface Okache will serve as the Taskforce Secretary.
Other members of the Taskforce includes, Mr Asuquo Kingsley Bassey, Mr Okoye Chidizie, Comr. Adulat Charles Inzor, Captain Otu Ita Otu, Mbeb Williams, ACP Kabiru Ibrahim, Chief Supt. Ojoi Ekpenyong Ogette and Lt. Commander S. B. Ahmed.
Meanwhile checks from our correspondent shows that most filling stations within the metropolis are selling the product but not at the old rates.
Most of the stations now sell the product at 515 naira per litter and blame it on the deregulation of the sector by the president, Bola Tinubu.
As a result of this, transport fares have doubled across the metropolis, an action that has drawn the ire of the residents.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
