The Imo State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Barr. Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh has taken a swipe on Department of Petroleum Resources {DPR), and other relevant agencies over the lackadaisical attitude in curbing the menace of adulterated fuel, kerosene and other petroleum products in Imo state.
The visibly angry speaker made the assertion on Thursday, during an executive session where some stakeholders in the oil and gas value chain, such as the DPR, the CPC, Oil Marketers, were invited to find ways to curb the ugly incidence.
The speaker noted that the circulation of adulterated petroleum products in the state has caused plural damage to the economy, including damage of appliances, explosions and death of Imolites.
The Speaker became miffed when the zonal Controller of DPR, Mr. Okechukwu Okoro, said that his agency has never got any official complaints about adulterated petroleum in the state.
The Speaker reminded the controller that much as oil and gas is in the exclusive list, it is the responsibility of DPR and other regulatory bodies to ensure that consumers consumed safe products that are in good quality.
He wondered what formal complaints is required at the face of collateral damages caused by adulterated products everywhere in Imo State.
Ibeh, regretted that the DPR could caution the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), which made efforts to test the originality of some of the products, on the grounds that it was not part of their responsibility. He described such act as sabotage and urged the DPR to rise up to its responsibility.
He charged the relevant stakeholders including the security agencies to track the source of the fake products for the purpose of check mating it.
The Speaker commended the Director General of Consumer Protection Council ( CPC) in the state , Mrs. Obioma Okoro, who recounted several effort they made to stop the circulation of the fake product.
