BY PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI— EBONYI State Government Wednesday warned petroleum marketers and distributors in the state to desist from unnecessarily increasing the cost of petroleum products for their own selfish interest, in view of next month’s festive period.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Petroleum Product Pricing and Distribution, Mr. Chidi Ejem, dropped the warning during a crucial meeting with petroleum marketers in the state.

He warned that petroleum products should not be sold above government approved prices except such increment was as a result of overwhelming market forces or directive from the Federal Government.

He said government would not tolerate any form of artificial upsurge in the prices of petroleum products throughout the festive period, stressing that any marketer caught in the act would pay dearly for it.

He assured citizens of the state of government’s commitment towards adequate supply of petroleum products throughout the season.

He said: “The meeting came as a result of the rumour that there will be fuel hike during this season and that marketers have already started selling products at a higher price. The truth of the matter is that government is working out a good plan to ensure adequate supply of products throughout the season.

“Those major marketers can sell products for N65, but for no account should other marketers sell above N70 in the state.  I have already made contact with the area Manager in Port Harcourt and the Department for Petroleum Resources, DPR.

“There are so many marketers lifting petroleum products under the quota of the state but do not have functional fuel stations in the state, so they end up selling it to those who have stations outside the state.”

“We want to help those marketers in the state who want to lift petroleum products but do not have lifting license so that they will not sell above government approved price.”

In a remark, Vice Chairman, Petroleum Dealers Association, PDA, in the state, Chief Tom Agada expressed happiness over the effort of the state government towards the stability of petroleum products in the state adding that the Association was not resting on its oars until issues of adulterated products was eradicated from the state.

He pointed out that marketers were not the ones responsible for price hike during festive periods but that price at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, depot was a determining factor of how much petroleum products would be sold in the state.