By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has frowned at the activities of petroleum dealers in the state who suddenly jacked up the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and created artificial scarcity of the products.
Governor Otu, who inaugurated a multi stakeholders taskforce with the mandate to checkmate the situation in the state, noted that the petroleum products currently in fillings stations and different tank farms are subsidized ones, therefore, they should have waited till July when the subsidy period would be over .
“It is harsh of the petroleum dealers to increase the price because the President made a pronouncement stating his commitment to what is already known”, Gov. Otu said.
He charged the eleven man taskforce members led by Hon. Peter Okim to execute their assignments with honesty and diligence that will ensure that the petroleum products are not hoarded and are sold at the right pump price in the state.
Responding, the Chairman of the Taskforce, Mr. Peter Okim, assured that they will justify the confidence reposed on them in the discharge of their assignment.
He told journalists after the inauguration that the will be civil in their approach by first, engaging the dealers and stakeholders in order to achieve the objective of the Taskforce.
He also hinted that their assignment covers addressing the indiscriminate parking of petroleum tank trucks along the major highway of the State capital.
“We will get them to return to the parks and free the highway. Their presence at the entrance highway of the State have constituted a huge traffic risk and nuisance in the State Capital.
Other members of the Taskforce includes, Mr. Asuquo Kingsley Bassey, Mr. Okoye Chidizie, Come. Adulat Charles Inzor, Captain Otu Ita Otu, Mbeb Williams, ACP Kabiru Ibrahim, Chief Supt. Ojoi Ekpenyong Ogette and Lt. Commander S. B. Ahmed. Mr. Boniface Okache is to serve as the Taskforce Secretary
