Anambra Gov’t Sets Up Taskforce On Illegal Petrol Distribution, Facilities
The Anambra government on Wednesday set up a 58-man taskforce to check illegal operations among petroleum marketers in the state.
The committee would also ensure that filling stations and Liquefied Petroleum Gas outlets sited in densely populated residential areas in the state were moved to safe locations and ensure that all levies accruable to the government were paid into designated account.
Inaugurating the Committee, Mrs Patricia Igwebuike, Special Adviser to Gov. Willie Obiano on Petroleum Resources and Legal Matters said taskforce ensure compliance to operations standards and guarantee that Anambra people were protected.
Igwebuike warned that members of the task force should not turn themselves into terrors to marketers but to work with them and achieve the objective of government.
She said the Anambra Procurement Pricing, Regulation and Distribution Committee would ensure that there were no unauthorised selling of petroleum products in unlicensed locations and facilities with revoked licenses.
“You will also monitor and stop the installation of illegal taps siphoning, selIing, or trans-spiriting and ensure that filling stations across the state does not engage in illegal increase in pump prices; adulteration, hoarding and other malpractices.
“The committee stop the siting of Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG) plants in residential areas and ensure the relocation of filling stations already within heavily populated residential areas to a more suitable environment.
“Ensure that payment of petroleum levies by marketers is pad into the designated State Internally Generated Revenue Account and inspect the filling stations systematically to ensure regulatory compliance,” she said.
Igwebuike said Chief Christopher Okonkwo would head the Committee while Chief Hyacinth Ezebuilo, Mr Lawrence Ameke and Mr Magnus Eziokwu would be in charge of Anambra North, Anambra Central and Anambra South senatorial districts.
In his acceptance speech, Okonkwo assured that the Committee would be diligent in executing it duties.
He thanked Gov. Obiano for setting up the Committee and finding the members worthy of the appointment.
“We will serve with sincerity of purpose, we shall not threaten members of the public, we shall not take undue advantage of anybody.
“On behalf of my members I want to thank the governor and promise that we shall deliver on our mandate,” he said.
