Abia State government says it has noticed with dismay the sharp practices by petroleum marketers in the state who now sell petroleum products above the government approved pump prices. The sharp practices, according to the state government, are inflicting more hardship on Abian residents and those who came back for Chris and New Year celebrations. The government in a statement signed by Eze Nwanganga, the Commissioner for Petroleum, vowed to expose and prosecute any petroleum marketer caught in the act.
The statement read, “In view of this, the state government directs all marketers to revert to the approved pump price immediately.
A task force has been inaugurated to checkmate defaulters. Failure to do this will attract severe consequences, please be guided accordingly.”
Many fuel stations in Umuahia, the State capital have been without fuel for some days now, with long queues witnessed at few of them that have the commodity. But despite the warnings by the Abia State government, some filling stations visited by News Echo in Umuahia like Hampet Filling station, Easy on Oil at Umuwaya road, Ngozi Oil and Corn Oil at Orpet junction still sold at N390 and N370 respectively. Black market operators also sold at N390 or N420 per litre
