Cross River Governor Creates 11-man Taskforce To Checkmate Petroleum Dealers

Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River State, has inaugurated an 11-man multi-stakeholder taskforce to checkmate the activities of petroleum dealers which have led to sudden fuel scarcity in the state.

Inaugurating the committee, headed by Mr Peter Okim, Governor Otu frowned at the activities of petroleum dealers in the state, describing their action as harsh.

He added that such attitudes have created artificial scarcity of the products and subjected the people to additional suffering.

Otu noted that the petroleum products currently in petrol stations and different tank farms are subsidized until July 2023.

He said the dealers ought to have been patient till when the subsidy period would be over.

“It is harsh of the petroleum dealers to increase the price because the President made a pronouncement stating his commitment to what is already known”, Gov. Otu said.

He charged the eleven-man task force members led by Peter Okim to execute their assignments with honesty and diligence.

He said they must ensure that the petroleum products are not hoarded and are sold at the right pump price in the state.

He also charged the task force to decongest the highways of petroleum tankers and trucks.