Eno warns marketers against selling fuel above govt price

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Umo Eno has warned petrol dealers against selling petrol above the approved price, saying the government will not tolerate the unpatriotic action.

In his broadcast message to celebrate the 37th anniversary of the state’s creation on Monday in Uyo, Eno said a task force to track down perpetrators and prosecute them would soon be set up.

“Let me warn those who are selling petrol above the approved price that the government will not tolerate such unpatriotic actions. We will soon set up a task force to ensure that those engaging in this practice are brought to book,” he said.

Many fuel stations in Uyo, the state capital is currently shut, causing those remaining open for business to sell fuel between N1,500 to N1,600 per litre, while the black market sells between N1,800 and N2,000.

The governor who mentioned that the CNG bus project would soon be launched, however, stated that the search was ongoing for partners who would provide refilling depots for CNG buses, adding that buying CNG buses without having refilling depots was senseless.

“We are in search of partners who will provide refilling depots for our CNG buses. Once this is achieved, we will launch this program. It does not make sense to buy CNG buses that will not have refilling depots, doing so, will defeat the purpose of this initiative”, he said.

While commending past leaders on their efforts to develop the state, Eno who said Akwa Ibom State has continued to witness steady growth across sectors, reeled out his achievements in agriculture, education, aviation, health, youth security and the maritime sectors.

He stated that his plans for Akwa Ibom were intentional to, “grow our people, fight poverty, touch and improve the quality of lives in the rural areas, strengthen our crime fighting capabilities, improve the quality of education and healthcare delivery at the primary levels, maintain further the peace and security we have enjoyed, and expand while maintaining our infrastructural amenities”.

He cautioned citizens against using politics and ethnicity to divide the state and pledged to continue to work across party lines to ensure peace.

“Politics should not divide us, ethnicity should not separate us, let our kindred spirit be an everlasting tie that binds and shapes our daily engagement with one another. “I have led this State since my inauguration as a peace-maker, who loves to work across party lines and show humility in governance. I intend to continue with the approach as long as I remain your governor, so help me God!” he stated.