The Joint Taskforce On Petroleum Monitoring in Cross River State has sought the collaboration of security agencies, especially the Nigerian Navy and Department of State Services (DSS), to help avert possible diversion of petroleum products and unilateral price hikes.
The chairperson of the taskforce, Peter Okim, is also seeking cooperation to curb fuel hoarding and other malpractices in the fuel sector as well as the indiscriminate parking of trucks along the highway.
He made the appeals when he and his team visited the security agencies today.
“We have succeeded in clearing trucks parked on the highway that before now constituted great risks to motorists and residents of the state. Our next move is to clamp down on marketers hoarding, diverting or selling products above the regulated price,” Okim disclosed.
Also speaking, the secretary of the team, Boniface Okache, disclosed that Governor Bassey Otu has ordered the closure of petrol stations and other related businesses bent on sabotaging the efforts of government.
He maintained that any petrol station that refuses to sell at the approved price is not ready to remain in business.
“However, the government is willing and ready to provide an enabling environment for all businesses to thrive, provided that they operate within the guidelines, ” he added.
Welcoming the team, Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNSV), Commodore VB Gbaranwi and his DSS counterpart, John Sokoya, commended the taskforce for the successes recorded so far.
They observed that going by the level of the rot in the sector, it would require a committed and decisive team to correct the anomalies.
They further expressed their willingness and readiness to partner with the taskforce to arrest the situation.
