Enugu, Marketers Agree To Ensure Steady Fuel

The Enugu State Government and Marketers of Petroleum Products in the State have agreed to plug all loopholes that would affect steady supply and availability of the product to consumers.

Speaking at the end of two separate meeting between representatives of government, major and independent marketers at the government House, the state governor said the marketers have also agreed to sell petrol at the official government price of N97.00  per liter.

They also agreed to ensure that consumers did not hoard or hawk petroleum with a view to causing artificial scarcity and that marketers would be free to load fuel at any depot in the country.

However,  a task force headed by the State Commissioner for Inter-Ministerial Matters,  Mr Chuka Utazi,  has already swung into action to enforce compliance with the new price regime and eliminate hoarding of petroleum products by marketers in the state.

Utazi who represented Governor Chime at the meeting therefore cautioned against excessive purchases since many petrol trucks would be arriving the state within the week to ensure availability of the product.

Earlier in his address,  Mr. Utazi told the marketers that the meeting was scheduled on the instruction of the Governor for a heart to heart talk with them with a view to finding the cause or causes of the fuel scarcity and how best to tackle them.

The Commissioner explained that as very responsive administration while the state government would continue to encourage people to do their businesses without hindrance or harassment,  it would  not tolerate exploitation of the consumers.

He requested the marketers to assist government to ensure there was enough petroleum products in the state, adding that if they supplied enough quantity to dealers, there would be enough to be sold to consumers.

The commissioner said that it would be unfair for any marketer to divert fuel meant for Enugu State to another state in the bid to make more money, pointing out that any marketer caught in that act would be punished to serve as deterrent to others.

He stated that although, the law enforcement agents and state security operatives would  see to it that sales of fuel were on, up to 6pm now, as filling stations should be allowed to sell as stipulated by law.

According to him, government would be making public, all filling stations where fuel is available and appealed to consumers to be patient and bear with government as efforts were being made to supply more products to the state.

The meeting was attended by both major and independent marketers as well as the NNPC depot Manager in the state.