By Aniefiok Christopher
The story of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Akwa Ibom State is a pathetic one as major marketers, dealers and black marketers at the slightest issue employ devious means to hike price of petroleum products, contrary to what is obtainable in other states of the country, Straightnews has gathered.
Though the dealers and marketers were selling N940 to N1000 at filling stations in the state, they readily cashed on the lingering face-off between Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) with Joint Task Force to reap multi-millions from ‘innocent’ consumers, Straightnews gathered.
Our findings show that the marketers hoarded their products by engaging in panic sales, tampering with metres and hiking the costs, thus worsening the socio-economic activities of the state struggling to come out of the hardships caused by the hurried fuel subsidy removed by the Federal Government.
The situation that started one week ago with consumers buying a litre of PMS N1450 and N1500 grew worse this week with many road users and people coughing up their lean financial resources to swell the pockets of oil marketers and black marketers.
It wasgathered that most filling stations in the state open their stations at night and sell to black marketers who consequently jack up prices to their whims, while others resort to panic sales with a hike in prices.
Unfortunately, PMS on Tuesday shot to N2,500 per litre in Akwa Ibom with consumers hardly able to get it.
The situation further worsened transportation in the state with an increasing decline in the number of vehicles on the road and transporters raising fares by over 200 per cent as NUPENG stopped tankers from entering Akwa Ibom for the past few days.
Most filling stations run by independent marketers monitored in Uyo and environs were shut in response to the “Notice of Withdrawal of Services Over Confiscation of PMS – Loaded Trucks by JTF Personnel”, signed by the Chairman, Coordinating Committee, Francis Udoyen, and Secretary, Prince Ekom Idemudo.
They said it was imperative to call out their members in solidarity with NUPENG to demand the release of the PMS-loaded trucks seized from some members four months ago by men of the JTF, Operation Delta Safe (ODS).
“As part of our obligation to stand for each other in and off-season, equally drawing strength from the resolution taken at the last emergency congress over members’ trucks in the custody of the JTF operatives for four months now, you are hereby directed to close your filling stations from the public with effect from Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
“This action has the approval of our national office, and non-compliance will be visited with appropriate consequences”, the IPMAN directive read.
Recall that in May 2024, by federal agencies confiscated and detained two petroleum trucks in Mbo Local Government Area.
Akwa Ibom citizens Groan
Meanwhile, residents of Uyo metropolis and in other local government areas have bemoaned the arbitrary increase in cost of petroleum motor spirit (fuel) in Akwa Ibom State occasioned by the just suspended strike announced earlier by members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN).
Recounting their ordeal, citizens including commuters and motorists in Uyo said fuel scarcity caused by the strike action has led to an increase in the price of petrol beyond the reach of the ordinary citizens.
A tricycle operator, Mr Anietie Peter who had already increased his fare 100 percent, he was only able to ply the road because he was the tricycle owner, stressing that the situation would have been different if he was driving on hire purchase or on daily pay.
Speaking on the situation, the Proprietor of Albert Institute, an computer academy along Nwaniba said bemoaned the fuel crises in Nigeria, since the advent of the present administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, the current economic hardships that Nigerians are facing are indications that Tinubu was not prepared for the task he undertook as the President of Nigeria.
He fiercely criticised the inequitable distribution of palliative meant to cushion the removal of fuel subsidy, adding that the gesture is not helping, hence the call on the government to find a lasting solution to the energy crisis in Nigeria.
According to him, the incessant increase in pump prices has led to an astronomical rise in prices of goods and services across the federation.
Ms Precious Ekediongo, a food vendor said cost of PMS has caused a corresponding increase in prices of staple food items, thereby making life unbearable to the citizens of the state.
She, therefore, called on the State Governor to find a lasting solution to the perennial cases of fuel crises in the State.
AKHA Wades in
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Tuesday directed its Committee on Petroleum Matters to urgently interface with the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) and Joint Task Force (JTF) officials in a bid to find lasting solution to the ongoing strike by IPMAN in the state.
The situation which has aggravated the already high cost of living in the state pushed the Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong led 8th assembly to seek ways that could alleviate the suffering of the masses.
Speaker Otong who presided over Tuesday’s plenary also empowered the Petroleum Committee to entreat Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) to call off its strike and reopen their stations in the interest of the people.
This call was in response to matter of urgent public importance brought before the House by Hon. Mrs. Kenim Onofiok, member representing Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency on “The Need To Urgently Address The Issue Of Fuel Scarcity in Akwa Ibom State” to redress IPMAN’s notice of withdrawal of service and directive to all her members to close their filling stations against the public from Tuesday, 24th September, 2024 over what they described as seizure of their members’ trucks by the JTF over 4 months ago.
Aware of the recurrent crisis over the years between members of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) in Akwa Ibom State and Joint Task Force (JTF) officials, the motion got worried that if this situation persists, there may be serious crisis resulting in breakdown of law and order in the State.
According to the motion, Hon. Onofiok raised that “as at today, Petrol stations in Akwa Ibom are shut against the public and the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol has skyrocketed from N2,000 to N2,500 in the few petrol stations that are selling and the black market dealers have capitalized on this, resulting in high cost of transportation closing down of business and inability of workers to get to their offices” the lawmaker said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Leader, Rt. Hon. Barr Otobong Bob expressed sadness over the present situation as well as called for urgent intervention.
He said from market survey Akwa Ibom marketers sell Petroleum products at the highest rate in the South-South and South-East region, a situation which has affected all facets of human life as fuel remains one of the most used commodity and source of power generation in the society.
In his observations, Hon Jerry Otu also remarked the actions of IPMAN as likely to be an act of sabotage to the present government mostly as the state globally referenced for tourism is celebrating her 37th Anniversary of its creation.
Furthermore, the member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno and Chairman House Committee on Petroleum matters Hon. Engr. Udobia Friday decried that the situation has translated to a serious and negative economic hardship, hunger, pains if not death to the people, and an act which may likely disrupt the forthcoming local government elections.
He sought urgent government’s intervention mostly as PHED has not been able to constantly power medical facilities with electricity to save lives.
The lawmaker also raised concern over fuel stations tampering with their pump metres which according to him needs prompt government attention.
NLC Directs workers to stay at home
In a letter to Governor Umo Bassey Eno, through the Head of Civil Service Office of the Head of Civil Service, Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom State Council, had directed workers to stay at home.
The letter tagged: RE: WITHDRAWAL OF SERVICES says ‘‘Following the directive of independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Akwa Ibom State Chapter dated 23 September, 2024 (as attached) for their members to withdraw services to Akwa Ibom State effective September 24, 2024.’’
The State Administrative Council (SAC) of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Akwa Ibom State Council met at an Emergency Session today to discuss on the impact arising from this directive to our workers and citizens and do resolve as follows:
Signed by the State Chairperson, Comrade Sunny James, the letter stated ‘‘That His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State to personally kindly intervene by setting up a team to investigate claims from parties in dispute that necessitated the confiscation of the PMS loaded trucks and subsequent withdrawal of services;
‘‘The SAC-in-Session frown at the short notice given to the already impoverished workers and citizens to re-adjust themselves on the impact the withdrawal of services will cause them;
‘‘The meeting called on His Excellency to immediately inaugurate the Petroleum Monitoring Taskforce to check this excesses going forward as was promised in His Excellency’s, 37 State Anniversary Speech;
‘‘The SAC-in-Session further note the negative but untold hardship our workers and citizens are going through in attending to their work/businesses and hereby direct all workers to withdraw their services and stay at home, effective midnight of September 25, 2024 until this impasse is resolved and the strike actions of IPMAN are called off to enable citizens breath. ()
‘‘While calling for the immediate PAGE 1/3 in of the matter, Organised Labour are calling on parties to sheathe their sword and hot make Akwa Ibom experimental grounds for negative actions,’’ it added.
