Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodimma and petroleum marketers would soon meet on ways to mitigate the effects of the removal of subsidy from fuel by the federal government.
President Bola Tinubu had said in his inauguration speech on Monday, May 29, 2023, that the federal government has removed the subsidy on fuel, a pronouncement that immediately triggered arbitrary hike in the product’s price across the country and return of queues at the filling stations.
According to them, the Imo State government is worried about the hardship the citizens are going through since report of the removal of the subsidy broke out and is poised to ameliorate their suffering.
While highlighting that Uzodimma has promised to meet with the petroleum products marketers on the way forward the government said its attention has been drawn to the sharp increases in the price of petroleum products, especially petrol, in the state in the last 24 hours.
A statement by the commissioner for information and strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba said it is “regrettable that while the federal government has insisted that it has not officially removed subsidy on petroleum products, some marketers in Imo State have rushed to adjust upwards their prices, thus inflicting pain on the poor suffering masses.”
Emelumba said, “The government hereby appeals to petroleum marketers to show compassion in the present circumstance by considering the plight of the ordinary people, particularly because what they are currently dispensing are old stocks they bought before the planned subsidy removal.”
The commissioner revealed that hiking prices of petroleum products with products purchased at pre subsidy removal rates clearly amounts to extortion.
“Government therefore appeal to petroleum marketers to reconsider this astronomical price increase and adjust the pump price downwards in the interest of the suffering masses.
“The government assures the marketers that His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State will soon meet with them to explore ways of mitigating the consequences of the planned subsidy removal,” he added.
