Anambra moves against sale of petrol above N97

Task force closes filing stationsFOUR filling stations were sealed-off and four persons arrested in Awka, Anambra State capital yesterday, for allegedly selling petrol above the official N97.00 per litre.Chairman of the Anambra State Petroleum Task Force, Obi Okwudili, who led the team, in company of policemen to monitor developments at filling stations in the state, said the government had two weeks ago warned dealers of petrol to maintain the official N97.00 per litre price and use correct meters or risk arrest and prosecution.He told The Guardian that the four closed filling stations ran foul of the government's directives and were cheating the public.'Three of the sealed stations within Awka metropolis and another one at Amensea were caught selling petrol to customers for N105.00 per litre, which was displayed on their meters and some also adjusted their meters. Those arrested were two men believed to be managers and two female attendants of the various filling stations,' Okwudili said.In an interview, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Vincent Ezenwajiaku, who supervised the petroleum task force office, ordered dealers to comply with government directives, warning that government cannot accept any reason for cheating Anambra residents.According to him, those arrested would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.In their reactions, some of the dealers attributed the price hike to what they called prevailing market forces, while also blaming the Federal Government for its inability to closely monitor the major marketers who allegedly sell products at higher prices to them.The Director, MICAN Petroleum, Awka, Mr. Obi Okafor, said his company was selling according to how he bought the product. 'I bought petrol at N98.00 per litre from my supplier. I use power-generating set, which I maintain, I have to pay my workers, and I can not go out of business,' he said.Also speaking, another dealer, who gave his name as Emmanuel, said: 'Anambra State has not started producing oil. We buy from marketers in Lagos at N90.00. When you add transport and other expenses, it comes to N98.00 per litre, then we sell at N100.00.'They both appealed to government to repair Enugu depot so that dealers from the South-East will stop sourcing their supply from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar.
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