The Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu, has established an 11-member multi-stakeholder taskforce to investigate the practices of petroleum dealers that have resulted in the state’s unexpected gasoline crisis.
In launching the committee, led by Mr Peter Okim, Governor Otu expressed concern over the state’s petroleum dealers’ actions, calling them severe.
He said that such mindsets have produced an artificial scarcity of things, causing people to suffer even more.
Otu stated that the petroleum supplies available in gas stations and tank farms are subsidized until July 2023.
He stated that the dealers should have waited till the subsidy period ended.
“It is harsh of the petroleum dealers to raise the price because the President made a declaration stating his commitment to what is already known,” Governor Otu stated.
He charged the eleven-member task force, commanded by Peter Okim, with carrying out their responsibilities with honesty and attention.
He stated that they must ensure that petroleum products are not hoarded and sold at the correct pump price in the state.
He also directed the task group to clear the roads of fuel tanks and vehicles.
Okim stated in his response that they will justify the trust placed in them in the completion of their task by engaging the dealers and stakeholders to attain the goal.
“Their presence on the highway has posed a significant traffic risk and annoyance in the State Capital.”
Asuquo Kingsley Bassey, Okoye Chidizie, Adulat Charles Inzor, Otu Ita Otu, Mbeb Williams, Kabiru Ibrahim, Ojoi Ekpenyong Ogette, and S. B. Ahmed are other members of the Taskforce.
The Taskforce Secretary will be Boniface Okache.