THE Delta State Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee, constituted by the government to ensure products availability and appropriate pricing across the state, has swung into action, with an unscheduled visit to fuel stations in Asaba, the state capital.
Following its inaugural meeting, the team, led by its Chairman and Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emman Amgbaduba, visited Matrix, NNPC Mega Station and NewPath Petroleum, all in Asaba, yesterday.
Briefing journalists afterwards, Amgbaduba said the overall objective was to ensure availability, accessibility and affordability of the products, admitting that Deltans have been in pains as a result of fuel scarcity in the last few months.
He said the state government was concerned about the bitter experience of the people in getting the products, assuring that the committee would not rest until normalcy returns across the state.
Amgbaduba urged stations with products to start dispensing at the government approved pump price, warning that defaulters would be made to face the full weight of the law.
“We agreed that Deltans are in pains as a result of fuel scarcity. We feel the pains of Deltans and we have hit the streets running to make sure that fuel is accessible, affordable and available to the citizens.
“We appeal to residents and motorists to remain calm, as the state government is not resting until the chaotic queues are eliminated.
“We advise stations with products to commence selling immediately, as those hoarding would be sanctioned,” he said.
According to him, the committee has taken a step further by adopting a docket system to monitor tankers from their loading points to the points of discharge to avoid diversion of the product, appealling to the Federal Government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to take extra steps to avoid sentiments in the distribution of available products.
On why the state government waited this long before taking action, Amgbaduba said this was to allow the Federal Government to address the situation to avoid being labelled as over regulators in the petroleum sector.
