– As scarcity persist
– Rivers cautions marketers against exploiting motorists
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — As fuel scarcity occasioned by the importation of substandard premium motor spirit into the country rages on, the Rivers State Government has cautioned marketers and filling stations owners against exploiting motorists and members of the public.
This is as fuel price has risen to N220 per litre at most filling stations in Port Harcourt, while it is being sold at N350 per litre by black marketers.
Speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Peter Medee, urged marketers to be patriotic to manage the problem, tasking filling station owners not to exploit motorists.
Medee, however, assured that more products will be supplied in the state soon, in order to reduce the long queues at the filling stations and also reduce fuel prices.
“The problem is that there is a problem in our hand and we all must be patriotic enough to manage the problem. If you have a filling station, this is not the time to exploit and take advantage of the society.
“This is the time for everyone to support the government to ensure we all get out of the situation.
“We went to these filing stations, and we found out that many of them got products from far away Calabar at a higher price. So, we had to plead with them to reduce the pump price.
“We have been collaborating with marketers to see how this fuel scarcity will not so much affect us in Rivers State.
“So, we are expecting that by God’s grace, in a few days’ time, we are expecting more supplies in the state, because as more supplies comes in, fuel price will naturally come down.”
Meanwhile, commercial drivers have urged the Rivers State government to clamp down on petrol stations who dispense fuel only in the night, including black marketers who sell in jerrycans along the roads.
Follow us on twitter
