By PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI-EBONYI State Government, Monday, vowed to deal with any petroleum marketer caught engaging in diversion of products meant for consumers in the state or sale of adulterated products .

The government alleged that some marketers were fond of diverting petroleum products meant for the state thereby, denying the state of its mandatory allocation every month from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Enugu station.

Special Adviser to the governor of Ebonyi State on Petroleum Products, Pricing and Distribution, Mr. Chidi Ejem, gave the warning in Abakaliki while x-raying some of the challenges facing distribution of petroleum products in the state.

He said: “I had a meeting with marketers and warned those without stations to forget even raising a draft because from their drafts I will get them and they will face the law as it concerns illegal diversion of petroleum products.

“The activities of marketers here are not so bad. Some of the marketers are trying their best while there are bad eggs among them. So they are the ones responsible for what the masses are passing through. So they are really the people I’m fighting with to ensure that such acts do no persist in the state.

“The problem could be traced to the depot and refinery. The major challenge Ebonyi State is facing then is not getting its allocation. Every state has its allocation monthly and the allocation gets to Ebonyi State through the marketers with lifting rights.”