Abia taskforce on petroleum compels dealers to sell product at N86.50 per litre

In its resolve to enforce the Federal Government’s new petrol pump price of N86.50 per litre, the Abia State Task Force on Petroleum Products has clamped down on dealers selling above the recommended pump price in Umuahia, the state capital, and Aba, the commercial hub centre of South East.

In Umuahia, the team started its operations on Ikot – Ekpene Road unaware to some dealers whose filling stations were visited and were forced to start selling at regulated pump price of N86.50, instead of the N130 and N140, which they hitherto sold to motorists.

One of the dealers in Umuahia, Ugochi Michael, managing director of Ngozi Petroleum Limited on Ikot-Ekpene Road, blamed the hike in their pump price on the non-availability of the products at Osisioma Depot, Aba.

Michael said for the past six months he had not lifted from the depot and had been sourcing his products from a third party, and advised Federal Government to ensure the refineries were repaired so as to make the products easily available.

A motorist at Ngozi Filling Station, who bought the product at N86.50, expressed joy towards government enforcement of the new pump price.

At Orpet Filling Station, another buyer – Ekekwe Egu said what was happening was a new dawn in Nigeria.

In Aba, the taskforce equally clamped down on a number of filling stations and forced them to sell at the new approved pump price.

At Masta Petroleum, Opobo Road, two Keke Napep riders – Julius Anya and Linus Sunday – expressed happiness and described it as a welcome development in Abia State.

Filling stations visited in Aba included E. J Oil, Masta Pet., on Opobo Road, Gabbey Oil, Kemjika Oil and Chriveld on Aba- Owerri Road, while Jong Nig. Limited and Hannas Energy Limited were also visited.

The taskforce team, led by Ambrose Ahuoma, the chairman, told BusinessDay that his team was carrying out the exercise to ensure that petroleum dealers in the state comply with the directive of the government on the new pump price of petrol.

He noted that dealers were liars by telling his team that they procured their products from other sources rather than the NNPC.

The chairman, who disclosed that the exercise would be a continuous one, said dealers who refuse to comply would have their stations sealed and appropriate sanctions taken against them.