Nation
Scarcity Of Kerosine, A National Embarassment –Peterside
Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream has described the lingering kerosene crisis across the country as a national embarrassment,
He made the statement in Calabar in continuation of his committee’s oversight visit to Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC and private oil facilities in the Port Harcourt area.
Peterside who spoke with officials of PPMC, marketers, retailers and consumers of DPK said this kerosene scarcity is not only an embarrassment but a denial of basic rights of ordinary Nigerians who bear the brunt of national challenges such as this.
“This scarcity is a national embarrassment and with every reported scarcity in any part of the country, we feel diminished as a people. Therefore we must address it because it is unacceptable. Our people should not suffer, there is no reason to suffer in the midst of plenty. For me, the big question is: where is DPK disappearing to despite huge importation by government”, Peterside queried.
In the Chairman’s view therefore, the availability of Kerosene should be taken for granted by Nigerians, particularly those in the low income cadre who have suffered this unusually long crisis period.
However, Peterside commended the management and staff of North-West Petroleum and Gas Company for making kerosene available by going the extra mile. He urged the company to sustain this service which has greatly reduced the burden of sourcing the product in Calabar metropolis and beyond. He also visited North-West mega station in Calabar, where he interacted with consumers of the product who had formed long queues at the filling station prior to his arrival.
At Calabar office of PPMC, independent marketers spoke through their chairman, Michael Udofia. According to them, kerosene is only available in private depots and they are bought at very exorbitant price. And this is why it is difficult to sell at government approved prices to end users.
Peterside later addressed retailers who came to protest to members of his committee about the worsening situation in Calabar and its environs. He assured them that the nation’s legislature cannot afford to look the other way while Nigerians suffer. “We are going to urgently set up a sub-committee to address this issue, I can assure you”, he said. The chairman also promised that his committee would look into the catalogue of challenges facing operators in the sector.
The House Committee on Petroleum, Downstream also visited Calabar Free Trade Zone. While addressing management and staff of the free zone, Peterside stressed the need for Nigerians to take interest in manufacturing since this is the only way of accelerating our nation’s economic growth.
The chairman and members of his committee had earlier paid a courtesy call on Senator Liyel Imoke, governor of Cross River State who commended the committee for its efforts in addressing challenges in the downstream sector of our economy.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
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