METRE ADJUSTMENT: ANAMBRA STATE GOVT TO SANCTION DEFAULTING FILLING STATIONS

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

The Anambra State Goverenment has expressed concern over the level of metre adjustments by filling station operators in the area.

The State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr. Anthony Ifeanya, made this known when members of the state House of Assembly Committee on the Ministry visited him on a familiarization tour.

According to the Petroleum Resources Commissioner, apart from the high cost of petrol and the attendant effects on the people, the state government was also worried over complaints about downward metre adjustments by the operators .

Mr. Ifeanya said government had concluded plans to begin a tour of all the filling stations with a view to monitoring and ascertaining the authenticity of their metre gauge .

Mr. Ifeanya noted that the joint taskforce would not hesitate to shut down any outlet shortchanging unsuspecting public in such a trying time.

He told the Committee that there had been series of meetings and interactions with stakeholders in the sector, including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) with a view to finding solution to the high cost of the commodity in the state.

The Chairman House Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr. Smart Okoye, said as the representatives of the people, the lawmakers were no longer comfortable with the issue of fuel crisis, especially as it concerned hike and reduction in metre gauge.

Mr. Okafor noted that the situation was biting hard on the people and wondered why the marketers would suddenly blame the development on products not being available in Enugu depot that had been dormant for more than twenty years .

Radio Nigeria gathered that the House of Assembly during plenary on January 10, 2023 constituted the Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources following the recognition of Anambra as an Oil Producing State.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU