PHCCIMA Tasks FG On Deregulation Policy

The Federal government has been urged to consult with stakeholders in the petroleum industry with a view to fast tracking the implementation of the deregulation policy.
The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) made the call after her technical and economic meeting under the chairmanship of its President, Engr. Vincent Adonye Kingston Furo at the chambers secretariat in Port Harcourt.
PHCCIMA condemned the perennial scarcity of petroleum products in Rivers State, expressing confidence that the implementation of the deregulation policy would bring about the desired changes in the sector.
In a communiqué made available to newsmen, PHCCIMA noted that the development is posing a serious threat to the survival of transportation and other business considering that petroleum is the mainstay of the economy.
To this end, the group suggested the need for relevant authorities to wake up to their responsibilities by making concerted efforts in ensuring that the incessant cases of diversion of petroleum products is brought to an end and advised that a more proactive measure should be put in place to tackle the disturbing trend.
Besides the PHCCIMA also condemned the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for its inability to effect the desired changes in the sector and concluded that DPR has failed the masses in its duties adding that government should explore other ways to bring about sanity in the petroleum sector in order to boost economic activities.
Speaking further, PHCCIMA President, Engr. Vincent Furo advocated for a more effective team to monitor the loading of petroleum products from the depot to the places of dislodgment, calling on the Rivers State Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to be alive to their statutory duties in checking the activities of miscreants who indulge in the diversion of products meant for Rivers State.
The chamber then appealed to the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) to evolve a more effective distribution system that will ameliorate the sufferings of the people.