NAN
Kogi Government on Thursday, inaugurated a committee to monitor the sale of petroleum products to avoid hoarding and scarcity during festive and election periods in the state.
Inaugurating the committee in Lokoja, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Folashade Ayoade, said the 7-man committee would function to prevent occasional scarcity during festivities and elections.
“This government is very conscious of the need and importance of fuel to the state economy for movement and in carryings out our normal day-to-day duties.
“The government sees it as a good idea to have a committee to monitor the sale of fuel in Kogi, that is why the governor has deemed it fit to approve members of the committee for inauguration,” Ayoade said.
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According to her, the committee is also to ensure evenly distribution of fuel across the state at regular price.
She said this was necessary, especially toward festive periods when petroleum products were hoarded and sold at black market at exorbitant prices.
Ayoade added that the committee would ensure that fuel was available at regulated standard prices, provide quick response during exigencies and prevent saboteurs from portraying the government in a bad light.
Mr Otayitie Eminefo, the Special Adviser to the governor on Energy and Power to the governor assured the state government that the committee would deliver on its mandate and terms of reference.
Eminefo is also the Committee Chairman.
He said that the committee was the initiative of Federal Government, through NNPC and in collaboration with Kogi government to ensure availability and sale of petroleum products all year round at stipulated price.
“This committee will be able to monitor the release of petroleum products from various depots across the country heading toward the state, especially toward festive and election periods.
“We will provide security and ensure the products are sold at regulated prices and report back to the NNPC on daily basis,” he said.
He said that the state government would come down heavily on anybody who attempted to behave in a nefarious manner and sanction offenders, through fine.
The committee members are representatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria Custom Service, Kogi Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Office.
Others are from the office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).