Eben Enasco Reporting…
After weeks of calling on the Edo state government over the incessant hikes of petroleum products that fell on deaf ears and a follow-up protest to press home their demands, there seems to be a respite as a committee is set up to monitor the distribution and pricing of the product in the state.
The huge protests by members of the Coalition of Civil Societies on Monday, at different locations, are seen by many as the propeller of the government’s urgent response to the escalating fuel pump price.
The Monitoring Committee made up of actors in the private sector, civil society organizations and government has been mandated to ensure that shylock marketers do not take advantage of the situation to rip Edo citizens off.
This was contained in a statement signed by Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects.
Recall that some residents Of Benin City in Edo State, including a coalition of Civil Society Organizations, led by Comrades Agho Omobude, Kelly Osunbor, Kola Edokpayi, Olu Martins, and others On Monday stormed the streets, to protest the SCARCITY OF REDESIGNED NAIRA NOTES AND FUEL IN THE STATE.
At the Premises of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, as well as the State House of Assembly, the protesters registered their grievances, calling on the authority to intervene.
The protesters had pointed accusing fingers at some government officials, who they claimed are owners of major filling stations in the state selling above-pump prices
Premium motor Spirit, PMS, is sold for between 500 and 700 naira in most filling Stations across the Benin metropolis.
With the daily INCREASE in the pump price, there is a persistent scarcity that is hitting hard the people, and this has affected the living conditions of the people in Edo State, as prices of commodities have now gone beyond buyers’ imagination.
The CIVIL SOCIETY believes that the regulatory body, HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH to stem the tide, thereby, giving the government twenty-four hours to reverse the surging price of petroleum products that have incurred hardship amid multipliers effects on society.
However, received by officials of the Edo State Government, promised to transmit their complaints to the appropriate authorities
RT HON MARCUS ONOBUN, the
Speaker Edo State House of Assembly and OSAIGBOVO IYOHA the Chief Of Staff led the officials.
It Is hoped that beyond the receipt of their complaints, and a further set up of the committee, the government will begin to kickstart the process of making these commodities available to the members of the public at the official pump price to douse the rising tensions.