By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, in Akwa Ibom has expressed disappointment over the inability of the Federal Government to control the unscrupulous attitude of petrol marketers that has led to the lingering high cost of fuel in many parts of the country.
It has also called on both the authorities of the National Youth Service Corps,NYSC, and Akwa Ibom State government to expidite efforts and ensure the release of the remaining prospective Corp members held captive by kidnappers in Zamfara State.
A statement endorsed by it’s state chairman Barr Godknows Njoku and Vice Chairman, Comrade Eridiong Obong at the end of it’s monthly meeting and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday described the activities of the marketers as economic sabotage.
The statement described as regrettable, lack of seriousness shown by the FG towards controlling the activities of middlemen and other operators in the downstream sector adding that this has led to marketers taking law into their hands by creating artificial situations inorder to hike the price of the commodity.
This they said if left unchecked could inflict further hardship on Nigerians and have the potential to generate mass action from the already suffering and deprived citizenry.
It said the continued detention of some prospective NYSC members from Akwa Ibom by their kidnappers in Zamfara, more than a year after their abduction remained a shame to the country and called on security agencies and the Akwa Ibom State Government to show more committment towards the quick release of the remaining captives.
The CLO said the new guidelines regarding registration of Point of Sales,POS, operators by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, was insensitive and not inorder, calling on the FG to put a stop to this action and allow for already existing regulations with banks.
It added that any further form of charge on the operators would further cause them to increase their already exorbitant withdrawal charges and would only result in further hardship for Nigerians.
The organisation described the new guideline by CAC as insensitive and a further attempt to oppress poor Nigerians who have continued to get poorer by the poor handling and management of the economy by successive Federal administration with current government policies already choking the downtrodden
The statement however commended Governor Umo Eno for for the donation of 20 Hilux vehicles to security agencies for the fight against insecurity and crime but asked for more to be done in this direction to increase the capacity of the agencies in fighting crime in the state.
