By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Another round of fuel scarcity is looming in Akwa Ibom state following allegations of extortion and impounding of products even as marketers have been directed to withdraw services from Monday.
According to the state branch of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), the decision to suspend operations was taken after a stakeholders meeting following a series of “refractions into our businesses caused by the activities of Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA) where members’ products were impounded on the road and extorted.”
It directed members to close stations/outlets from the public effective Monday April 22, 2024 adding that any non compliance would attract a fine of N300,000.
Checks in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital revealed that many of the service stations has not opened for business with black market operators selling as high as N1,500 per litre.
Few of the stations that defied the directive to sell have hicked their price to N800 litre as against the current price of N695 per litre.
The check further showed that though the price of petrol is said to have been slashed in some parts of the country, the looming strike has worsened the current situation in Akwa Ibom.
Reacting to the threat, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association Of Nigeria (PETROAN) however urged the public to disregard the threat while its members should go about their businesses.
Udeme Esset, chairman of the group in the state in a statement said the association would release their enforcement team from today (Monday) “to monitor the operations of the retail outlets and report to the (Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority)” adding that the “necessary security agencies for action should there be any encumbrance from any unauthorised persons or group.’’
It urged the state government to take necessary actions against those stopping petrol tankers on the road therefore causing unnecessary traffic and endangering the residents in an event of a possible accident or explosion from any of the inflammable petroleum tankers impounded.
Reacting to the ugly development, Governor Umo Eno said he has directed the commissioner for internal security to liaise with the coordinator of Ibom Community Watch, a government owned security outfit and other security outfits to mount surveillance at the boarders to checkmate the unscrupulous elements from carrying out their evil intentions.
According to the governor, “there is fake news in circulation from an unknown group saying they want to withdraw their service of fuel delivery in Akwa Ibom state, we have contacted the original and authentic group who have since countered that announcement.
“In the wake of the prevailing hardship in the country,if any group believes it can constitute themselves into a nuisance and create additional hardship for the people of Akwa Ibom, we will confront that group.”
The governor who spoke during a special service and fundraising for church building project in Onna local government council noted that Nigerians have been severely impoverished by the present economic realities and warned groups not to worsen the situation.
Until the threat by IPMAN, nothing was heard of PETROAN in the state which many believe is a faction within the marketers which is sympathetic to the state government.
