By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has given 7 days ultimatum to the Delta State Government to liaise with relevant shareholders in Petroleum industry and reverse the Price of Petroleum Products which is now sold between N375 to N450 per litre and move to it its original price of N165 Per litre or face the mass protest of the body across the state.
The body handed down this order through the Chairman of CDHR Delta State branch, Comrade Jonathan Giama in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in his office in Warri ,Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State. According to him, before now, the price of the products was N165 per litre as approved by the Senate through the Petroleum Regulatory Agency to Independent Petroleum Marketers. He said, over three months now, the price of petroleum products has gradually risen to between N375 and N450 saying, neither the state nor the Regulatory Agency is saying anything. He said, this situation has led to high cost of transportation which eventually in turn led to high price of goods and services which has put the Deltans into untold hardships.
CDHR Boss who expressed worry over this development said, this situation, coupled with issue of newly redesigned naira note of N200,N500 and N1000 which are not seen in the banks yet, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has placed 31st January 2023 as deadline in the use of the naira.
He said:”Since last three months, it has been observed that the price of Petroleum Products has been moving up, neither Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) nor the state government is talking about how the situation can be brought under control. This goes to show that, there is a game plan along the line”.
Comrade Giama wondered why IPMAN cannot abide by the price of the products for which they were issued licence to operate saying, he spoke with IPMAN’s Chairman on the way forward but ended up abusing him as a mad man. He quoted the Chairman to have said, he was not concerned about the plights of Nigerians nay Deltans as far as the scarcity of the petroleum products is concerned.
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According to CDHR state Chairman, IPMAN have failed to sell by the price approved for them because they are determined to exploit the public. He said the body therefore gives the Delta State Government ,and other stakeholders in this Petroleum Industry within 7 days to reverse the price of the products to N165 or face the wrath of the body as it would mobilize Deltans to embark on mass protest, the resultant effects, according to him, would be bloody.
He said:”We are using this medium to call on the Delta State government headed by Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa and other relevant shareholders to reverse the price of petroleum products to N165 per litre or face mass protest which will be bloody”.
The Delta State CDHR Boss use this medium to thank those who had robbed minds with him over this issue especially NUPENG’s Chairman and others that are making efforts to salvage the problems but have gone beyond their powers.
He said:”I use this medium to thank the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Petroleum And Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and others whom I spoke with to salvage this problem but it is beyond their control just as he hopes that the state government will hearken to this order and liaise with other stakeholders in this regard to avoid plunging the state into another crisis similar to that of EndSars”.