The sudden price hike and scarcity of fuel in Akwa Ibom State will soon become a thing of the past as the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has waded into the face-off between Federal Security officials and Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association of Nigeria, which led to the closure of many fuel stations.
The resolution followed an intervention by Governor Umo Eno, who convened a meeting with the leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN in Government House, Uyo.
Addressing government house correspondents at the end of the meeting, Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong said at the meeting, the Governor was briefed about two petroleum trucks that were confiscated in Mbo Local Government Area by federal agencies and have been detained since May 2024.
The Information Commissioner said, while acknowledging that the matter falls outside his jurisdiction, the Governor has directed the Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways to liaise with the relevant authorities to ascertain the facts of the case.
“His Excellency the Governor, conscious of the depleting capacity that the petrol situation has brought some people, especially the hardship suffered by the people has held a meeting this morning with critical stakeholders in the industry.
“Representative of IPMAN, NUPENG and others were there with the mandate of their national executives, and the issues were brought to His Excellency’s attention.
“His Excellency mentioned that though the issues were not within his authority, it happened within his jurisdiction.
“The structure of the Nigerian State is that federal authorities can execute any action within any State. His Excellency has agreed to interface with the federal authorities to ensure that he gets to the root of what the issues are,” he stated.
Ememobong said the prevailing high cost of premium motor spirit, PMS, was also discussed to unravel how the price can be brought down through the establishment of a depot and other long-term solutions.
On his part, the Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman, of the Petrol Tanker Drivers Association, Comrade Joseph Okafor, said that the Governor has given the union his word to liaise with relevant bodies to ensure that the product confiscated by security operatives on the 5th of May is returned to the union.
On his part, the representative of the National President of IPMAN, Comrade Micheal Udofia acknowledged that the meeting with the Governor was fruitful and that there will be a free flow of products in the state going forward.
Udofia noted that the Governor having seen the suffering of the people, has decided to intervene and assured that the confiscated truck will be released alongside the products, adding that all the fuel stations will open for business immediately.
On the pricing of the product, he said that will be dependent on the loading price from NNPCL which, he said, is the sole off-taker of the product from Dangote Refinery.
