Users of gasoline in Akwa Ibom State have criticized the state government for failing to stop marketers’ arbitrary price raising of the product.
Consumers, particularly drivers and commuters, have continued to complain about the increase in the price of gasoline, which most filling stations now charge between N320 and N350 per litre.
Fuel was being sold for between N250 and N290 per litre as of last week, but just before Christmas, the pump price rose to N300. The current price per litre is N350.
Gas stations have remained closed, despite the fact that there have been no cases of the product running out as of late. Fuel dispensers, on the other hand, charge exorbitant fees.
Customers who spoke with our correspondent and expressed their ire over the issue accused the Governor Udom Emmanuel government of failing to put an end to marketers’ relentless price hikes in Akwa Ibom State.
For instance, Unwana Assam said: “In the early hours of today, I placed a call to a friend who is based in Abuja and the two others who are in Lagos to ask and confirm how much is the pump price. I received the shock of my life when they both confirmed to me that fuel is sold in the nation’s capital and the business hub at a price below N200.
“Immediately, I paused and asked myself; what exactly is wrong in Akwa Ibom that even the government seems less concerned about the well-being and what affects the people? That, even if you kill someone, roast and hawk on the street, the government will care not until the situation gets out of hand.
“When Akpabio was the governor, I could remember vividly how he used to set up a task force committee to checkmate the distention of pump prices by the petroleum dealers in the state and whoever hikes the price beyond the normal, his/her fuel station will be sealed off by the task force.
“Although the measure did not completely curb the hike of pump prices, at least, dealers were very careful whenever they wanted to increase the price of their product.
“Today, the price of fuel in Akwa Ibom is higher than the prices in other states in the federation. It started on December 1, and it has continued to date, and nobody, not even the government that’s supposed to strictly checkmate this new menace said or done anything about it.”
However, the Akwa Ibom State Government has expressed displeasure over the increase in gas prices by local independent marketers and has threatened to form a special task force to handle the issue.
The monitoring team will step in, according to Sir Victor Etefia, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Petroleum Matters, who had gone on an unexpected visit to gas stations near the city of Uyo.
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