Petroleum Commissioner Meets with PEDAN Anambra State over fuel hike
By Muo Nonye / Okechukwu Nwanneka
The Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barr. Anthony Ikechukwu Ifeanyi, has held an emergency meeting with Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) Anambra State in his office at Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka Anambra State on the issue of fuel hike in the State.
Mr. Commissioner made it clear to them that the aim of the emergency meeting was to let them know that the situation is getting out of hand, most especially the outrageous increase of fuel price in the state.
"Apart from the high pump price which you are pleading that it is as a results of the high cost of supply, the most annoying part of it is the meter adjustment which despite all his warnings, you have refused to listen.
"It is quite disheartening to purchase a litre of fuel in such a high price yet it will not be complete because of your greed."
Mr. Commissioner urged them to put a human face and consider the people while doing business and not to be greedy and only concerned in making profit.
He warned them to make sure that they readjusted their pumps to accurate meter reading as the government will not hesitate to penalize the defaulters.
"Since you don't want to do the right thing by stoping the wicked act of selling fuel to the people with adjusted/incomplete meter, you should not expect the state government to fold their arms and watch you cheat the people despite the hike in fuel pump price."
The Commissioner informed them that he has just concluded a meeting with the Anambra State House Committee Members on Petroleum and Mineral Resources and that they are not happy with the way the fuel price is continuously increasing in the state.
He inquired from them on how they have been sourcing their fuel all this while they are selling normal pump price since the Enugu depot has not been functioning for many years as they said and what is the difference now, and why are some filling Stations selling cheaper than others.
The Vice Chairman,PEDAN Anambra State, Dr. Emmanuel Ekwue in his statement said that the current hike in the price of fuel is as a result of the constant increase in the amount they purchase from individual depot.
Mr Ekwue explained that getting the PMS directly from NNPC now is very difficult as they will have to wait for months before they receive the product they have paid for and with the new price as at the time it gets to them.
He further insisted that the State Government has no right to measure their pump meter saying that it is only the DPR and the Weights and Measures that havevthe right to do that of which they have an understanding with them.
He threatened that if the government chose to start checking their meter reading they will stop selling and close down their stations.
The Independent Petroleum Marketing Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Representative Anambra State, Chief Larry Onuoha complained to Mr. Commissioner that the major problem they are facing is that getting the Petroleum product from NNPC is a very big challenge and their fellow marketers who have oil dump currently sell to them at higher rates of between #400.00 and #430.00.
According to him, it keeps increasing and sometimes will sit on their money and be offloading it in their personal filling stations to sell at cheaper rates without supplying them for the product they paid for which is seriously affecting their business.
Mr. Ekwue went further to say that if the state government will not allow them to sell according to how they buy, they will shut down and stop selling as they will not sell their products below the cost price.
The PEDAN Secretary, Evang. Peter Jideani pleaded with the state government to bear with them as the situation is also affecting them badly, noting that many of them are running their businesses with bank loans, adding that presently the cost of PMS supply and bringing it down to the state is very high.
He further pleaded that for them to remain in business, the least they can sell is #450.00 considering the amount they are buying presently, promising that they are ready to work with the government for a better Anambra State. (MOI)
The information officers report from Ministry of Petroleum, Awka
RNI
Comments
Post a Comment