In a bid to curb diversion of petroleum products and unilateral price hikes, the Joint Taskforce On Petroleum Monitoring in Cross River State has sought the collaboration of security agencies, especially the Nigerian Navy and Department of State Services (DSS).
The chairperson of the taskforce, Peter Okim, made the appeals on Monday when he and his team visited the security agencies while also seeking cooperation to curb fuel hoarding and other malpractices in the fuel sector as well as the indiscriminate parking of trucks along the highway.
Okim said, “We have succeeded in clearing trucks parked on the highway that before now constituted great risks to motorists and residents of the state. Our next move is to clamp down on marketers hoarding, diverting or selling products above the regulated price.”
The secretary of the team, Boniface Okache, also revealed that the State Governor, Bassey Otu, has ordered the closure of petrol stations and other related businesses bent on sabotaging the efforts of government.
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While sounding a note of warning to erring petrol station in the state, the secretary warned that the criteria to remain in Business in Cross River is to sell at the approved price.
“However, the government is willing and ready to provide an enabling environment for all businesses to thrive, provided that they operate within the guidelines,” he added.
Welcoming the team, Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNSV), Commodore VB Gbaranwi and his DSS counterpart, John Sokoya, commended the taskforce for the successes recorded so far.
They observed that going by the level of the rot in the sector, it would require a committed and decisive team to correct the anomalies.
They further expressed their willingness and readiness to partner with the taskforce to arrest the situation.