Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The meeting organized by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Friday Eboka, for concerned stakeholders to address issues behind the ongoing fuel scarcity in the state has ended in a deadlock.
This as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has backed out from the truce over inability to reach a common ground at the meeting.
The meeting had in attendance members of NUPENG, IPMAN, PTD, the Police and the Rivers State Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, as a result of the suspension of loading product by tanker drivers, over harassment and extortion by security agents and taskforce.
Speaking to our correspondent in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Chairman of IPMAN, Dr Joseph Obele said the Association is demanding for the release of all petrol tankers and products impounded by taskforce and security agencies.
Obele who did not disclose why the Association backed out from reaching a truce, however, hinted that the stakehokders may meet with the Governor Nyesom Wike tomorrow.
“All I can say is that the meeting ended in a deadlock. The strike still continues.
“I cannot give you details of the meeting because it is both security and technical issues.
“Meanwhile, all our trucks must be released. The trucks being detained by the taskforce from Ikwerre and Emohua Local Government.”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Party has condemned the ongoing fuel scarcity in Rivers State.
Spokesman of APC in Rivers State, Darlington Nwaoju, said the party was shocked that Rivers people and businesses in the state were being forced to buy fuel at N700 per litre from black market traders.
Nwaoju urged the Rivers State government not to ignore the plight of the people, but to swiftly intervene to resolve all issues behind the fuel scarcity.
Follow us on twitter
